Kim Barton, supervisor of elections for Alachua County, joined the board of directors of the Florida Supervisors of Elections (FSE) on Tuesday. In her role Barton will represent Marion, Putnam, Levy, Dixie, Gilchrist, Columbia and Alachua counties.
“It’s really an opportunity for her to serve, not only Alachua County, but the state-wide elections community,” said T.J. Pyche, communications director for the Alachua County Supervisor of Elections office.
The board of directors is comprised of 10 districts representing all 67 counties in Florida, along with a few executive offices. The FSE runs Florida’s elections, making sure elections are accessible and accurate.
Alachua County elected Barton as supervisor of elections in January 2017 and again in 2020, when she ran unopposed. She is the first African American to serve in the role.
Barton started working for the supervisor of elections office in 1993 as the first outreach coordinator before becoming the outreach director in 2006, the position she held until her first election to office.
Barton has won several awards while serving as the supervisor of elections, including the Eleanor Roosevelt Award for Outstanding Contributions in Public Policy from the Alachua County Democratic Executive Committee (2017), the Professional of the Month from Gainesville Black Professionals (2017) and the Rosa Parks Quiet Courage Award (2018).