Candidate: Gertrude Walker

Gertrude Walker is a native of Miami, Florida. She began her career as a deputy supervisor in the St. Lucie County Supervisor of Elections office, in 1968. In 1980 she was appointed Supervisor of Elections by Governor Bob Graham and since then has been re-elected to her 9th four-year term. She is presently in her 36th year serving the citizens of St. Lucie County. Gertrude was the first African American Supervisor of Elections in Florida’s 67 counties. She is well respected in the elections community both nationally and internationally. Gertrude was appointed to the Governor’s Select Task Force on Election Procedures Standards and Technology in 2001, in the aftermath of the 2000 Election, and to The Federal Election Commission Advisory Panel in 2001. She has received the following certifications. March 1985, Certified Florida Supervisor; 1987, Certified Public Manager-Florida State University; 1991, International Association of Clerks, Recorders, Elections Officials and Treasurers (IACREOT), Continuing Education Certification and June 2002, Certified Public Administrator-University of Missouri. Gertrude was elected President of IACREOT for the year 2004-2005. Gertrude’s presidency culminated in her representing this organization at the Annual Conference of the Global Elections Organization and the Association of Central Eastern European Elections Officials held in Budapest, Hungary attended by representatives of 41 countries. In 2005 the St. Lucie County Board of County Commissioners passed and adopted a resolution recognizing Gertrude for her 25 years of outstanding service as Supervisor of Elections for St. Lucie County and in 2008 the Board presented her with a distinguished Service Award for serving the citizens of St. Lucie County for 40 years. Gertrude considers serving the people of this county a privilege, is proud that she has kept the integrity of her office intact, and has not let political preference interfere with its supervision. Gertrude has served on Board of Directors for numerous organizations in St. Lucie County during her many years of public service: League of Women Voters, St. Lucie County Education Foundation, Club Utilitas Teen Center, Head Start, Council on Aging, American Cancer Society, WPSL Christmas Kids, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Commemorative Committee, N.A.A.C.P., Vice President, and Director of St. Lucie County Chamber of Commerce. First Chairman of the Board of Directors Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Committee; Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship Committee Chairman from 1989 to Present. Under her leadership the committee presented over $50,000 in scholarships to eligible students, as Scholarship Chair/2007-2008 for the Florida State Association of Supervisor of Elections (FSASE), she presented two St. Lucie County students with scholarship awards to Indian River State College. She spearheaded fundraising efforts for Haiti Earthquake Relief resulting in $33,232.00 of contributions being presented to the American Red Cross, February, 2010. She is married to Wildlife Artist Charles Walker. He is an original Highwaymen Artist and 2004 inductee of the Florida Artist Hall of Fame. Gertrude painted and sold her work along with her husband during the 60’s and 70’s. Gertrude and her husband, Charles Walker, are the proud parents of four and grandparents of four.