A new secretary of state has to get off to a good start: First, hire a staff and organize field offices around the state. Then, meet 132 lawmakers _ many of them new at the job. Also, clean out the board of elections in the state's largest county.

A story from the AP says, oh, and change the voting systems in 57 of Ohio's 88 counties for the second time in three years.

Jennifer Brunner certainly didn't walk into her office after winning election as Ohio's top elections official with her eyes glazed. But after one year on the job, she's drawn a new portrait of Ohio's electoral landscape _ and drawn the criticism that goes with it.

First, it was her turn to criticize. Less than two weeks into her term, Brunner, a Democrat, questioned spending by her predecessor, including more than $80,000 in bonuses Ken Blackwell gave to 19 top staffers she did not retain. A spokesman for Blackwell, a Republican, said the comments were the result of Brunner's "overall inexperience."