News Room

SAINT PAUL – On June 26, Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon presented Bibi Black, former general counsel for the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State with the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) Medallion Award. The award honors Black for her exemplary service to the state of Minnesota and tireless dedication to furthering the mission of NASS. Black was presented with the award at her retirement ceremony.

“Bibi is known for her encyclopedic knowledge of election law and was a trusted source of information and counsel for colleagues, legislators, advocates, and lawyers throughout the state,” said Secretary Simon. “She has steered our office through challenges, pressures, and uncertainty and leaves behind an impressive legacy.”

Black joined the office on June 26, 1981. She served four Minnesota Secretaries of State including Secretary Simon, Mark Ritchie, Mary Kiffmeyer, and Joan Growe.

She began her time in the office as the Director of Business Services and served as a reporter for the committee that drafted the first modern Minnesota business statutes. During her tenure, she expanded her expertise to include election matters and became general counsel. Over the past 22 years has supported the office through the creation of new laws, legal challenges, and high-profile recounts.

“It has been my honor to serve with Secretary Simon in working to make our elections systems the best in the nation,” said Black. “He is focused on that at this crucial time in our state’s history.”

Photo: Secretary Simon and Bibi Black

About the NASS Medallion Award

The NASS Medallion Award is the highest formal honor that a Secretary of State can confer on a national level. It was created to honor individuals, groups, or organizations with an established record of promoting the goals of NASS in one or more of the following areas:

• Elections, with special emphasis on voter education and participation
• Civic education, including the teaching, promotion, and study of this subject
• Service to state government, specifically as it relates to the duties of the office of the Secretary of State
• A commitment to giving – a business or individual whose philanthropic contributions have significantly enhanced the quality of life in a local or regional area within a state, or within an entire state

Award recipients should reflect the mission, purposes, and objectives of NASS as outlined in the NASS Constitution, Bylaws, and other relevant NASS policies. They should also promote the same dignity, ideals, and stature that NASS has come to represent over the years.