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Issues and Voices that Matter July 29, 2010

Voting Smart: Michael Ertel, Supervisor of Elections, Seminole County, Fl

Voting Smart: Michael Ertel, Supervisor of Elections, Seminole County, FL.

Voting Smart interviews Michael Ertel, Supervisor of Elections for Seminole County Florida in what results in a civics lesson – on issues surrounding voting in the upcoming local elections. Ertel is the go-to-guy who assures your vote is counted and counted correctly, that local candidates play by the rules in seeking your vote, and that your voting experience is as flawless as possible. Feature length – 31:20


Produced, reported and edited by Stephen McKenney Steck
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At age 40, Michael Ertel has served 5-years as Supervisor of Elections for Seminole County, since being appointed by the governor to fill the unexpired term of the previous election supervisor.  Ertel has been subsequently elected and reelected to the office in the ensuing years. His current annual salary is $120,000 set by the state statue based on a population formula. He has voluntarily forgone several legislatively proffered salary increases to remain in line with salary freezes imposed on his own staff which is funded by the county commission.

Ertel grew up in Seminole County Florida. He is a military veteran, a former public relations professional and a lifelong Republican- though he asserts his office is administered in a non-partisan fashion. This is his first elected office. His present term of 4-year expires in 2012. He has not yet announced his reelection intentions.

Producer–reporter Stephen McKenney Steck held the interview in Ertel’s Sanford, Florida office located on the property of the Orlando Sanford International Airport.  The extended interview lasted almost 90 minutes and is posted below, though 27-minutes was excerpted for this Voting Smart feature.

In the feature, Ertel’s answers illuminate a broad collection of issues ranging from what keeps him up at night to what your rights and responsibilities are as a voter. And from the role technology plays in the registration and voting process to how you should evaluate the effectiveness of candidates. You’ll also learn from Ertel how precincts are defined…the many ways you are able to vote…and whether or not he can be influenced or can influence candidates as regards their election campaigns.

In Ertel’s extended comments he adds more insight into the issues he has addressed, and he also offers responses about his personal and political journey to the position he now holds… the history of the supervisor of elections office…his own feelings about the difference between being appointed and then later elected…how he supervises his own election…and the partisan aspects of his office.

In another program, Ertel is featured on our Heard in Central Florida page in our unedited coverage of his explanation about pending state constitutional amendments.

Note that Heard in Central Florida has and will be posting unedited comments from candidates standing for election or reelection in Seminole County to the positions of judges, state legislators, school board members, county commissioners and city council positions in selected cities in Seminole County.  Links to these programs are below. Future Voting Smart segments will feature one-on-one interviews with local candidates in those positions, too.

Bios

Michael Ertel, Supervisor of Elections Seminole County, Florida http://www.voteseminole.org/en-us/
Michael Ertel
Supervisor of Elections, Seminole County, Florida

website | bio

Additional Feature Information

Links to other features produced by CMF Public Media featuring Michael Ertel or addressing issues related to local candidates and elections

Extended Content & Pictures

Click on the picture(s) to enlarge.
Michael Ertel, Seminole County Supervisor of Elections (Photo-CMF Public Media)
Michael Ertel and Stephen McKenney Steck
Extended interview (01:25:02)

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Michael Ertel, Seminole County Supervisor of Elections (Photo-CMF Public Media)

2 Responses to “Voting Smart: Michael Ertel, Supervisor of Elections, Seminole County, Fl”

  1. Marjorie Pazman says:

    My experience yesterday was one ot the best ever. There was a great guy out side the church directing us where to vote, and inside everyone was friendly and helpful. Everything was so well organized. I sure appreciate the ease in this wonderful privilege to vote.

    Thank you for all your efforts.

    Sincerely,
    Marge (Maggie) Pazman
    Precint #54

  2. Mr. Gregory Shields says:

    “My 89 year old Mother and I had the worst experience at the Air Port Road polling site! I myself am pushing 60 and do not appreciate the person that was helping us at the front counter. I am now sorry I didn’t get her name as we we’re so mad when we left we both could have spit bullets…The women at the counter was very rude and discourtesy to me I couldn’t believe it!

    Now, I find it hard to contact the “Supervisor of Elections, Michael Ertel… “No phone number listed to contact him personally. They have every number but the one to make contact with Michael, “This women should be fired!

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