To further assist our readers in making educated decisions when voting in November, we have sent a list of questions to each candidate running for the Supervisor of Elections of Broward County.
Catherine McBreen
- What is your full name and what position are you running for?
My name is Catherine McBreen and I am running for Broward County Supervisor of Elections.
2. Where are you originally from?
I was born and raised in Illinois.
–Why did you choose to move to this city/county/school district/state district?
I moved to Broward County because Illinois is experiencing a financial meltdown and will probably declare bankruptcy as a state. The tax laws and the weather are much better in Broward County and we have been co-owners of a condo in Fort Lauderdale so have a connection to the community.
-How long have you been here?
I moved to Florida full-time in June of 2019.
3. Why are you running for this position?
I am running for Supervisor of Elections because I believe my work experience makes me uniquely qualified for this position. I believe Broward needs to rebuild trust in this office and as a non-politician, I can make the SOE’s office non-political.
-Have you run in the past?
I have never run for a political office and I am not interested in being a politician. I believe my expertise is limited to operationally and efficiently running the SOE’s office.
4. If elected, what is your first point of action?
If elected my first point of action would be to perform a complete audit of all of the processes and procedures currently in place at the SOE’s office. For the last 30 years, I have been involved in auditing the operations and technology of various financial institutions. I believe that that experience qualifies me to ensure that all of your votes are safely and accurately tallied.
-Why?
Broward has been portrayed as a national embarrassment when it comes to elections with shots of protestors and reporters camped outside of the facility for days. My goal is to make Broward a model of trust and operational efficiency for the rest of Florida and for the nation.
5. What mission do you feel most passionate about?
I am very passionate about making sure that everyone votes. Voting is the most important right we have as Americans and we need to make sure we exercise that right. Many people feel it is a hassle to vote or that their vote doesn’t really count. We need to find ways to ensure that individuals can vote easily (but within the law) and that they understand how important it is to vote.
-Why?
I am passionate about voting because it was always portrayed by my parents and grandparents as being important. While they would not necessarily vote the same way, they would tell me that every vote counts, and mine could be the one that decides the election. Boy, were they right! For many of our more recent immigrant citizens, who left tyrannical governments, this right is even more important.
6. Where do you feel our city needs improvement?
I think the Broward SOE needs to improve its technology and the way that voters can vote.
-Why?
I believe that online voting, in addition to voting by mail, will become increasingly common in the next few decades. It’s important that we develop the tools for voter registration (such as biometric identification) and actual voting online that will lead us into the future. There is too much worry about hacking. If financial institutions can allow for on-line banking, there are clearly tools that can be used to protect online voting.
7. Where do you feel our city stands above the rest?
I think Broward County is one of the most influential counties in Florida as well as in the nation. Due to its diverse population both ethnically and by age, it provides a great opportunity to lead the change to vote processes that are required to move everyone into the future.
-Why?
Voter fraud is a big issue and whether it is true or not, Broward has a sullied reputation. We need to show that Broward can be a leader and that the trust that was lost in the past can be regained.
8. How do you plan to involve residents in the decision-making process in our town?
When I become SOE, I will reach out to voters through an aggressive campaign to understand their voting experiences. This initiative will be via town hall meetings as well as online and social media efforts. I want to understand their concerns and address any problems they may have encountered.
9. What neighborhood do you live in?
I currently live in Davie.
10. Where are your favorite places to spend time in our town?
Broward County offers numerous places to enjoy. While I like the beach I especially enjoy all of the bike paths available in various parks.