FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - Kentucky Secretary of State Elaine Walker will move to the state Department of Parks next month when she leaves office after 11 months.

As commissioner, Walker will replace Gerry van der Meer, who resigned after nearly four years, the Parks Department said Monday.

Gov. Steve Beshear appointed Walker in January to serve the remaining year of the secretary of state's term after Trey Grayson resigned to take a job at Harvard. Walker was mayor of Bowling Green for six years.

Last spring, Walker lost her Democratic primary bid for a full term to eventual winner Alison Lundergan Grimes.

The 60-year-old Walker announced about a month ago that she had undergone surgery to remove a malignant breast tumor, saying it was found early and had not spread to her lymph nodes.

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