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Supervisor Of Elections Candidate Profiles

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SUNCOAST NEWS STAFF REPORT

Published: October 11, 2008

On Nov. 4, Brian Corley, appointed Republican incumbent, will seek a full term as Pasco supervisor of elections. His Democratic opponent is Pat Carroll.

Pat Carroll
Supervisor of Elections (Democrat)

Patricia A. Carroll, who had no opponent in the Aug. 26 Democratic primary, is challenging Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley, the Republican incumbent, in the Nov. 4 general election.

Among the biggest challenges, Carroll wants "efficient, flawless implementation" of new voting equipment as well as protecting the security of the system.

CARROLL

She would "restore voter confidence in the validity of the voting process." She shared concerns about security of Pasco County old voting system, which used touch-screen equipment.

If elected, Carroll would assess any potential areas of fraud and "I will eradicate them." To make it easier to vote, she would explore collaboration with the U.S. Postal Service change of address system to update addresses in voter registration records at the same time. A public-private partnership with utility companies to facilitate changes of address might be another option. "When people move they have many things on their minds and changing their voter registration is not usually one of them."

She would promote an "educational blitz" that jury duty no longer is based on voter registration. "While on the campaign trail, I was amazed" how many people did not update voter records so they might avoid jury duty.

Carroll supports automatic restoration of voting rights of felons upon release from prison or while on probation. "This participation gives them a sense of ownership in their communities."

Bio snapshot

A Pasco resident since 1993, Patricia A. Carroll resides in Wesley Chapel.

Education: University of Florida, Levin College of Law, Juris Doctor, July 1999; Providence College, Providence, RI, bachelor degree in psychology, 1982.

Experience: Sole practitioner attorney handling trusts, wills, estate planning, corporations, contracts, probate, family and marital law, criminal defense; previously supervisor of the Dade City office of the Department of Juvenile Justice in 1990s.

Memberships: 2006 - present, vice president, then chairperson of the board for Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce; 1997-99, Criminal Law Association; 1995-97, Florida Council on Crime and Delinquency; 1993-95, Pasco County Juvenile Justice Council; 1993-95, Pasco County Truancy Arbitration Board; 1995, Pasco County Domestic Violence Task Force

Awards: 2000 Sunrise Spouse Abuse Advocate of the Year Award; 1984 Young Career Woman of the Year, Federation of Business and Professional Women; and more.

Brian Corley
Supervisor of Elections (Republican)

Brian Corley, the incumbent Pasco supervisor of elections, will face Democratic challenger Patricia A. Carroll in the Nov. 4 general election.

"With elections in Florida, the only constant is change," Corley commented. Corley counts the transition to optical scan voting equipment as one of the biggest challenges a supervisor will face. Also, new voting systems for disabled persons are due by 2012. Redistricting commences in 2010. And mandates include the post-election audits the state now demands.

CORLEY

Touch-screen machines had raised concerns, although the supervisor doesn't set the policy on which system to use. "Many voters have relayed to me that they liked the touch screens and had confidence in them. The machines used in the infamous Sarasota congressional race were tested four times. An optical scan voting system, with a paper ballot, however, should alleviate any issues of undervotes."

Corley doesn't believe voter registration fraud is a problem among more than 281,000 registered voters in Pasco. The new Electronic Voter Identification Devices, or EViD, system should alert poll workers about any attempt to cast multiple ballots. Florida Division of Elections maintains an Elections Fraud Hotline. Because of the large "snowbird" population here, however, he would support federal legislation mandating a comparison of voter registration files among states.

To encourage voter registration, people have Web site options or can pick up forms are posted at schools, banks, Post Offices, some apartment complexes, churches, and many other sites. The county set a record for absentee ballot requests which went past the 10,000 mark.

Under certain conditions, Corley would support automatic restoration of voting rights of felons who have been released from prison or probation. The person must not have been convicted of a violent crime or crimes against children and they must satisfy all requirements of his or her sentence. He supports current exemptions to automatic restoration of civil rights.

Bio snapshot

Brian E. Corley, 38, resides in New Port Richey with wife Ann-Marie and children Sarah, 8, and Joseph, 5. He first moved here in 1978 at age 9.

Education: Bachelor's degree in political science from University of South Florida in 1992, and master's degree in public administration with honors from USF in 2007.

Occupations: Appointed supervisor of elections by Gov. Charlie Crist, Jan. 18, 2007, to present; chief personnel officer for Pasco County Sheriff's Office 2000-07; human resources specialist for Clerk of the Circuit Court Pasco County, 1992-2000.

Memberships: Pasco Education Foundation board of directors, Pasco County Junior Achievement district board, chairman of River Ridge High School Career and Academic Partners in Action Committee, Dade City Kiwanis, Kids Voting Tampa Bay, Pasco County Take Stock in Children, West Pasco Chamber of Commerce, Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce and more.

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