- March 12, 2025
What would you do to try to increase voter turnout in Flagler County?
Despite radio, newspaper, (and) website advertising (including Facebook and Twitter), sample ballots being delivered to the home of the voter and other means of voter education, voter turnout throughout the state remains low for some elections, and voter apathy is apparent.
Voter turnout varies depending on the election. Presidential General Elections normally always generate a large voter turnout here in Flagler County, which confirms voters know where and how to vote — they just choose not to vote in all elections.
Voters are responsible for maintaining their voter registration information with the elections office so the supervisor can provide to the voter a current Voter Information Card to keep the voter informed of their districts and precinct information.
As your supervisor, I am responsible for registering and maintaining voters’ records, preparing for each eligible registered voter to cast their vote and to ensure the vote tabulation is accurate. I will continue to work hard to again be recognized as one of the Top 13 Supervisor of Elections in the state and encourage voter participation.
Because voters have options, there is really no excuse for one to not exercise one’s right to vote. It is convenient to early vote, vote by absentee or vote at the polls on Election Day. We should all vote in honor of those who have served and continued to serve this great nation of ours to protect our freedoms, and not allow stories regarding purging voters, felons, and noncitizens to influence our responsibility. The voter rolls are constantly being maintained and ineligible voters are removed from the voter roll as part of the list maintenance process.
Is there room to cut the Supervisor of Elections’ budget, or would that be cutting services too much?
My budget has been the lowest per capita of comparable counties since taking office in 2009. It is important that the budget of the elections’ office cover state unfunded mandates, expenses to replace inoperable equipment, provide for additional equipment to allow the office to operate as efficiently as possible and allow for the elections’ office to be prepared for such events as redistricting, which resulted in precinct changes.
Costs never remain the same, as budget needs differ depending on the number of elections scheduled per fiscal year, the number of registered voters to prepare for, as well as the current costs of doing business. The current budget has been reduced from last year, and yet is still lower per capita than other comparable counties’ budgets.
We should never allow the ballot box to be controlled through the budget. The supervisor is independently elected to preserve the integrity of the electoral process and they should not be influenced or manipulated by others when carrying out their responsibilities. It is never easy to carry out duties on a budget lower than others when you have the same responsibilities, but I have done it. I am always sensitive of our tax dollars, and (I) spend our tax dollars wisely.
Why should people vote for you instead of your opponent?
The voters would be best served to reelect me as their Supervisor of Election, as I am a proven leader who works for you and who has been ranked as one of the Top 13 supervisors in the state, by the Governor, in April. I’m state-certified, and I am one of eight supervisors in the state who has completed levels one and two of Florida Certified Election Professional Courses. These are accomplishments to be proud of when representing our county.
All elections conducted have been accurate and fair. As your employee, I will strive to continue to maintain being one of the top supervisors in the state. My proven experience managing the elections’ office allows me to be the best qualified candidate for the position of Supervisor of Elections.
My opponent makes empty promises and possesses no experience in conducting or preparing for elections. He also has a track record of violating election laws.
Vote with confidence. Vote for Weeks to preserve the integrity of the elections’ office.
Following the questionnaire, we had each candidate come in for a follow-up interview. A sample of Weeks’ responses is compiled below.
There is “absolutely not” an issue at her office with employees being uninformed or unfriendly, Weeks said, touting her budgetary successes.
“The budget has reduced some this year … based on the information. …It’s pretty common for the elections’ budget to go up. It’s very uncommon … for the budget to go down. … (Even when budgets did increased, though), you can see … I was still serving the voters for far less than comparable counties. … We already know we’re doing it cost-effectively for the voter. … Our budget is real close to what it was in 2008-2009, and we even have … roughly 11,000 more voters now than we had then.”
On her oftentimes rocky relationship with the Flagler County Board of County Commissioners, Weeks said:
“Being elected by the people, I have an obligation to the voters, and I have an obligation to that office. … My goal is to provide services to the voters that they expect. … In the last year or so, (the commission and I have) had a good relationship.”
On reelection, Weeks said:
“I have been able to prove myself. … I want the voters to know that they have quality representation within the office — what more could you ask for? … My opponent doesn’t have any experience. My opponent is not certified. My opponent has not even been a poll worker.
“(I’m) fair. I’m honest. I work for the voters — I realize they are my employer. I manage their money efficiently and provide them the best service they can get for their dollar.”
