Supervisor of Elections

Michael Brigmond

Michael Brigmond
282 Florida Parkway, Kissimmee, FL 34743
PH: 407-348-6521
mike@votemikeb.com
www.votemikeb.com
Republican
Age: 58
Occupation: Purchasing Agent
Total Monetary Contributions To Date: $1,985.01
Total Monetary Expenditures To Date: $1,406.53
Download 1st Quarter Financials
Download Financials as of 7.18.08

Previous/Current Elected Office:
None

Previous Campaigns for Elected Office:
N/A

How Long have you lived in Osceola County?
25 Years

What is your history of community service?
Disney Volunteers program during 20 years of employment; Meals on Wheels volunteer, Pastoral and Christian teaching ministry since 1984. Board of Directors for Florida Christian Vision and the Poinciana Vision project, President of Ronald Reagan Republican Assembly of Osceola, 2nd Vice President of Florida Federation of Republican Assemblies, member of Osceola County Republican Executive Committee, member of NBR (National Black Republican Assembly)

Why are in you seeking this office?
Having worked for the Supervisor of Elections in both Finance and Operations I became aware of the serious need to upgrade the leadership and management of the office. Serving as a poll worker for many years and then working in the office made me aware of the disconnect between the two. Vast improvements can be made to ensure poll workers are better prepared for the increasing challenges of our diverse and growing voter population.

What makes you the best-qualified candidate?
30 years of management experience dealing with multiple departments, and individuals, pooling personnel resources to meet production deadlines while exhibiting exceptional customer service. Also interpersonal skills acquired through extensive church ministry and counseling. Many people are willing to serve, but few are willing to lead. While on-the-job training may produce experience, it does not necessarily produce leadership. A good mechanic may possess the ability to disassemble an automobile transmission and rebuild it, but he may lack the ability to lead the corporation. Strong management and leadership skills are seriously needed in this position.

Current or former elected official you most admire and why?
President Ronald Reagan because he moved the nation into a better position economically, politically and strategically; and he did it without fanfare. He knew what needed to be done and he proceeded with a high moral standard and conviction. He did not please all the people all the time, but he accomplished more than any president before and after him. He was not a politician, he was a statesman.

If additional revenue becomes available where would you spend it?
First I would upgrade the accounting department to better manage and report the financial status of the office. Next I would improve the monitoring and utilization of available grants. These measures would free up additional funds for upgrading the web site for the benefit of the voters and candidates of Osceola County; provide better training for poll workers; and improve the quality of voter education programs. Grant money is available for poll worker training and voter education but is not currently utilized to the fullest extent. Additional training for office staff would be next on the list. While the current staff is well trained they would need additional training to be effective with the new measures that come with upgrading the office. Of course upgrading equipment is always a priority.

If revenue falls short, what are the areas you would target for cuts?
This is a very sensitive topic. I would do everything possible to not lose any trained staff, but when an office is overstaffed personnel cuts are always a possibility. This has been a growing problem with the Supervisor of Elections office for many years, but has not been adequately addressed. Upgrading the management and leadership of the office is needed to correct the staffing problem. As an example, Seminole County has approximately twice the number of registered voters as does Osceola County, but they have only half the number of employees as the Osceola office. The hiring of temporary workers is sometimes necessary, but this practice has been greatly abused in recent years.

Under what circumstances would you raise taxes?
There are no circumstances in which I would raise taxes. Some would say this question does not apply to the Supervisor of Elections position, but I disagree. Mismanagement of the office leads to inefficiency and requires additional tax dollars to operate. Managing the office properly would actually free up some tax dollars that ought to be returned to the taxpayers of Osceola County.