Escambia Elections Officials Recognized

November 22, 2010

In ceremonies conducted recently by the Election Center in Orlando, Escambia County Supervisor of Elections David H. Stafford and Deputy Supervisor of Elections Michael Hardin were designated as Certified Elections/Registration Administrators (CERA), the highest professional achievement.

CERA designation is achieved only through a multi-year course of study conducted by The Election Center’s Professional Education Program and completion of 12 core courses taught by the Master’s in Public Administration faculty of Auburn University ranging from ethics, to voter registration and elections law, planning, communications, and voter participation, among others.

The intent of the program is to improve the professionalism the management of voter registration and elections administration in promoting and preserving public trust in the democratic process.

“This is the highest designation available to elections and voter registration officials,” said R. Doug Lewis, director of the Center. “Of more than 21,000 elections and voter registration officials throughout America, this graduating class of 44 professionals takes us to 589 election officials who have achieved the CERA status. This is an outstanding accomplishment.”

“Escambia County is indeed fortunate to have Michael and David as two of the top designated professionals in America. Obtaining and maintaining CERA status means that they have committed to a career long process of continuing education to improve the electoral process in Florida and the nation,” he stated.

The Professional Education Program is sponsored by The Election Center, a non-profit association of voter registrars and elections administrators throughout America. Its membership is comprised of township, city, county and state elections officials. The Center’s primary purpose is education for local and state voter registrars and elections officials to promote and improve the democratic process.

Professional Education Program participants receive continuing education credit from Auburn University as well as professional training credits from The Election Center. The Professional Education Program was recognized in 1996 as the top continuing education program in America by the National University Continuing Education Association.

Pictured: Escambia County Supervisor of Elections David Stafford.

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Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News