We must engage people when they are young. When I say that, I do not mean when they are eligible to register to vote. I mean that we engage them starting in elementary school through mock elections and the like. In some counties across the state, first graders are using the same voting equipment we use on Election Day to learn about the voting process. In Osceola County, there is a civics curriculum designed by the Supervisor of Elections office that has been integrated into the local schools. We can do these things in Broward and it wouldn't cost a lot of money. We also need to make voter registration more accessible. We do this by increasing our presence in the community and extending office hours in the days leading up to the voter registration deadline, including staying open on a couple of weekend days. I have also called for free transit to the polls.
9. You traveled the state to visit all 67 supervisors of elections offices. Please name some of the best practices that you observed and want to bring to Broward County.
The best run offices have uniformity in process, meaning that each function of the office has a corresponding procedure or manual that, when feasible, is made publicly available so the office can be held accountable. Another aspect of a well-run office is its website, which speaks to a much broader point about a customer-oriented voting experience. We need to enhance the Broward elections website so it offers a user-friendly, accessible experience that gives people the information they need.
10. This question comes late in the interview. But can you tell me about your diverse background. I believe you have written a screenplay, in which your sister, the actress on Blue Bloods, performed. You also worked for a prominent Manhattan law firm. And you will be the first openly LGBTQ Supervisor of Elections in Florida if you win. How does this diverse background inform your actions if you get the chance to run the election division in Broward County? ntonchad.com/about
We need people from diverse backgrounds representing one of the most diverse places in the United States. My eclectic combination of public and private sector experiences uniquely equip me to serve as Supervisor of Elections at a time when the office could use a fresh start. My varied experiences have one thing in common I could not have done any of them without having a well-honed attention to detail. Because when you are writing/co-producing a multi-million dollar film at Netflix or putting together a billion dollar securities deal or planning events at the White House, there is no room for error. That's the kind of background we should expect in a Supervisor of Elections. But we also need someone with the energy and creativity required to restore faith in the process and get the public especially young people excited about voting. And as possibly the first LGBTQ constitutional officer in the State of Florida, I hope to be the kind of public servant I could have used as a role model growing up. When we are seen and represented as a community, our voices are amplified. I also hope to transform the Supervisor of Elections office into an inclusive work environment that is a true model for LGBTQ equality in a state where there is still so much work to be done.
(Article changed on February 27, 2020 at 14:18)
(Article changed on February 27, 2020 at 14:30)
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