Mayor Bartlett to Depart US Chess Oct. 21

It is said that no one can serve two masters. And so US Chess Executive Director Ranae Bartlett is trading Caïssa for the people of Madison, Alabama.

After serving on the Madison Board of Education (2011-2020) and City Council (2020-current), Bartlett won the Aug. 26 mayoral election with more than 56% of the vote. She will be inaugurated Nov. 3.

Bartlett was named US Chess director of operations in September 2023, and became our executive director in March 2024. She departs US Chess on Oct. 21, but as mayor she’ll keep her hand in the chess world.

Newly elected to the Alabama Chess Hall of Fame, Bartlett will help run a chess class at a Madison elementary school beginning in January, and she plans to continue to host and direct the Alabama All-Girls Championship.

US Chess President Kevin Pryor tells Chess Life Online: “Ranae Bartlett has established herself as a tremendous ambassador for US Chess while managing our organization’s day-to-day operations. She has demonstrated a tireless work ethic and an amazing ability to stay on top of everything while serving the chess community, leading her team, and working with the executive board. We were fortunate to have someone so talented and skilled as executive director and she will be greatly missed. We wish Ranae all the best in her new role as the Honorable Mayor of Madison, Alabama.”

The executive board will announce transition plans soon.