On November 7, 2006, Brunner became the first woman to hold the office of Ohio Secretary of State. Soon after taking office, she demanded the resignation of all members of the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections – a demand that ultimately led to a new board that now serves as a model for the state. She also created, “Better Lives, Better Ohio,” the first-ever in the nation web-based index of life quality indicators for jobs and progress in helping Ohio return to prosperity.