CHEYENNE - Gov. Matt Mead on Thursday selected a former Wyoming secretary of state candidate and Laramie County prosecutor as the next secretary of state.

Ed Buchanan will serve the remainder of Ed Murray's term as the state's election and business registration authority after Murray stepped down in early February following sexual misconduct allegations.

Mead said in a news release that Buchanan's 10-year term in the state Legislature, career in the Air Force, and job as an attorney and prosecutor made him a good choice for the office.

"Ed (Buchanan) is committed to Wyoming and to the responsibilities of the office," Mead said in a news release.

Buchanan, who will be sworn in Monday, was picked over two other candidates selected by the Wyoming Republican Party, Cheyenne attorney Darin Smith and Park County farmer Richard George.

Buchanan ran for secretary of state in 2014, but was narrowly defeated by Murray in the Republican primary.

Buchanan confirmed Thursday in an interview that he would be running for secretary of state in this year's elections, but said that will come secondary to his new position.

"It's a challenge for really any elected official when they have to run for re-election to their second term," Buchanan said. "It's nothing novel or new, it's just a matter of prioritizing things."

Buchanan said his first priority upon taking office will be to get to know the people in the office and prepare for primary elections in August and the general election in November.

"My first goal ... is to make sure that we're ready for that upcoming election season as a whole and continue the great customer service that office is known for," Buchanan said.

In the long term, Buchanan said he hopes to educate the public about the rules and regulations created by state agencies.

"(I want) to make that process as transparent as possible," he said.

He also touched on his new role on the State Loan and Investment Board, which awards grants to local communities for important projects.

"The other goal is to get out to the communities ... and put a face on the name and get to know the folks and the projects they're looking at to improve their infrastructure and the lives of citizens," he said.

In a forum Saturday in front of the Wyoming GOP, Buchanan also voiced his support of so-called voter ID laws, which require each person going to the polls to show a government-issued ID.