Candidate: Carolyn Brown Spooner

Carolyn Brown Spooner intends to seek the office of County Commissioner, District 1. She has waited patiently for more than 30 years for this opportunity. During this time she has acquired valuable political experience and knowledge and is ready to share that experience and knowledge in the role of County Commissioner. She has a deep love for the entire Bradford County Community. She is a native of Bradford County. She graduated with honors from BHS in 1970. She received a BS degree from Bethune-Cookman College in 1974, and M.Ed. & Ed.S degrees from UF in 1975. She also became a Certified Public Manager through Florida State University Public Manager’s certification program in 2008. Mrs. Spooner worked for the University of Florida briefly before taking a position with the Bradford-Union Guidance Clinic as the Clinical Director, where she served for 9 years. She later accepted a job at Northeast Florida State Hospital. She was  the  Customer Relations Director, serving 30.5 years before retiring in 2018.

Mrs. Spooner’s political history includes receiving two appointments from former Governor Bob Graham. She was first appointed to the Bradford County Historical Board of Trustees, which leased the old Bradford County Court House to Santa Fe Community College, which is now known as the Santa Fe Community College Andrews Center. This Board approved the funding for the Historic Camp Blanding Museum and the Eugene Matthew Historic Museum/Rosenberg Building at Starke Santa Fe Community College. Her second appointment was to the Florida Governor’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Celebration Commission. She coordinated the first Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration for Bradford County, Jan 1986.

Mrs. Spooner has had experience in City government having been elected as a City Commissioner in the City of Starke, District 2, April 2003. She was selected as Vice-Mayor in October 2003 and Mayor in Oct 2004. She served a second term as Mayor in 2006. She was re-elected unopposed as City Commissioner, District 2 and was selected as Mayor for the 3rd time on Oct 1, 2013. Mrs. Spooner assisted the City of Starke in acquiring District-wide clean-up crews. She helped to guide the city in developing a City webpage, updated recording system for meetings, and on-line billing. She facilitated the City in the development of its first Strategic planning process. In addition, she guided the city through a difficult state audit. She helped to resolve annexation conflicts between the City & County and helped to bridge the gap between City and County government to facilitate the two bodies of government to be able to work together for the good of the community. She helped to guide the city in pursuing grants for better housing, road improvements, recreation, sewer and water improvements. She initiated the City’s employee recognition program, and the first City Hall Open House celebration to encourage better communication and open government with the unveiling of a new City Logo. She served in City government for 13 years before retiring from the City of Starke in 2016.  

She served on the North Central Florida Regional Planning Council Executive Board, which consists of 11 counties and 33 cities. She served as Chair of the board in 2014. She served  on the Board for 10 years. In addition, she served on the International Relations Committee for The Florida League of Cities. She was president of the North Central Florida Areawide Development Co., Inc., and she served as 2nd Vice President of the Florida Regional Councils Association.

She helped to organize the Lincoln City Crime Prevention Program to combat drug trafficking. She and the Lincoln City Crime Prevention program were recognized by the Secretary for the Department of Corrections for their fight against crime. She helped citizens to organize and get street lights for the first time in Lincoln city so that the senior citizens and others could feel safer when walking after dark.

She initiated three scholarships to aid local students in seeking a collegeeducation; the RJE Founders Scholarship and the Shirley Ann Brown Livingstone Scholarship Foundation, named in honor of her late sister. She has helped (10) local students with college scholarships over the years, including (1) Bethune-Cookman College Scholarship recipient. Six (6) students attended Santa Fe, (1) attended UF, (1) attended St. Leo & (1) attended Florida A&M.

She has been recognized by a number of venues for outstanding citizen efforts. She has been honored by the RJE Masonic Lodge for dedication to the community and Mt. Pisgah AME church with the Community Image Award for community service. True Vine Outreach Ministry of Starke recognized her community service and work for our Lord in Bradford county and surrounding areas. Florida Department of Corrections recognized her for community service. She was nominated for the Florida Times Union EVE Award. She was honored by TV 20 as a Community Builder.  

Mrs. Spooner is a member of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church of Starke. She has served faithfuly as the adult Sunday school teacher for over 30 years and deaconess for 25 years. She started an outreach street ministry program in November 2013, to reach out to those persons on the streets who did not attend church. She became a licensed minister at Antioch Missionary Baptist church of Starke Jan. 2015.

Carolyn Brown Spooner is the daughter of the late Willie & Louiza Brown of Starke. She has two daughters, Kishanna & Charmil Spooner.