LETTER: THANK YOU, JOYCE GRIFFIN, FOR DECADES OF FAIR ELECTIONS IN THE FLORIDA KEYS

Dear Editor,

Congratulations to our Supervisor of Elections Joyce Griffin on her well-deserved upcoming retirement. During the more than two decades I interacted with Joyce and her staff, I always found them, and especially her, to be knowledgeable, professional and very transparent about the boundaries that constrain when and how much can be advised to candidates and political parties.

My earliest interaction with Joyce was during the 2000 campaign cycle when she was assistant supervisor of elections. During all the drama of counts, recounts and various incarnations of chads, her predecessor, with major assistance from Joyce, ran an election where none of the ballots was in contention. That trend has remained true throughout her time as supervisor.

I interacted frequently with Joyce during subsequent election cycles for 2004 and 2008, and my interaction increased when I was chairman of the Republican Party of Monroe County executive committee from 2010-2016. Again, I found Joyce and her entire staff to be helpful, and when questions arose that, for technical and legal reasons, they could not answer, everyone was very straightforward: “I cannot answer that, but go to the statute” was a typical response. 

While other Florida counties had curious vote counts and recounts, Monroe County got it right the first time every time by knowing and following the election rules and by treating all candidates and parties with equal respect and guidance.

Whichever current candidate wins the Supervisor of Elections office, he or she will have to meet Joyce’s very high standards of leadership, honesty, integrity, fairness and political neutrality as impartial guardian of the democratic process. Joyce is a great role model on how to manage and run a free and fair election.

I wish Joyce all the best in her retirement. She will be missed.

Sincerely,
Debby Goodman
Cudjoe Key