Martha Wigton, director of the Georgia House Budget and Research Office, was recently elected to the position of staff vice chair of the National Conference of State Legislatures at the 2018 Legislative Summit in Los Angeles. Wigton will succeed to staff chair in 2019-2020. NCSL, a bipartisan organization, serves the nation’s 7,383 legislators and more than 20,000 legislative staff.

“Martha Wigton is a dedicated professional and invaluable leader among our staff,” said Speaker David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge). “Her election to this important leadership position at NCSL is a credit to both the State of Georgia and our House of Representatives.”

“NCSL is the premier organization for state legislatures across the country and an organization I am proud to have been involved with since 1990. The services and opportunities they offer have proven to be invaluable for legislative staff across the country,” Wigton said. “I have personally benefited through my experience working with staff sections, standing committees, and the Executive Committee.  I am grateful to serve as staff vice chair, and I look forward to continuing my contributions to the success of the organization.”

NCSL is the only national organization that provides training, professional growth opportunities and information sharing for legislative staff. There are 13 staff sections and networks that sponsor meetings, training and publications. Legislative staffers are also eligible to be members of the NCSL standing committees, which address state policy issues and state-federal issues.

Wigton becomes one of seven officers – four legislators and three legislative staff members – on NCSL’s 63-member Executive Committee, elected yearly, which includes both legislators and staff.

Wigton has worked for the Georgia General Assembly since 1991, first in the Lieutenant Governor’s Office as executive assistant for policy and budget and later as chief of staff. Since 2011, she has served as Director of the House Budget and Research Office where she provides policy and fiscal analysis to 180 members as well as furnishes the professional staff for all 38 legislative standing committees.