Cruz graduates from acclaimed program

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Cruz graduates from acclaimed program

Around Osceola

Wednesday, 22 September 2010 00:00

By Rick Madewell
Assistant Editor
Puerto Rico native Rosa Cruz has become Osceola County’s first graduate of the nationally recognized Certified Elections/Registration Administrator program.
Cruz, 40, of St. Cloud, who has been with the Osceola County Supervisor of Elections office for 18 years and is currently the voter services director, was awarded her certification at a ceremony in Orlando Aug. 20.
The program teaches the history of elections, election and voter registration systems administration, leadership, communications and ethics, among other topics.
“It is not a breeze to get through,” Cruz said. “The professors really challenge you to get out of your comfort zone and participate with class projects and presentations. They expect full participation. The professors are dedicated to teaching the students but the students are expected and required to share his or her knowledge and experience with the group as well.”
Her boss is excited about the achievement of her staffer.
“We are very excited to have our first staff member complete the program,” said Osceola County Supervisor of Elections Mary Jane Arrington, who also is participating in the program. “CERA is a wonderful program that includes all aspects of the election process from communication to laws to showing you how other elections offices in different states hold elections.’’
Arrington opened up the program to all employees. Cruz was one of the first to sign up.
Participants must complete 12 classes on various aspects of the elections process as well as work during two general elections. They must also have been employed in the elections field for more than one year.
Cruz started working at the elections office when she was 22, and hadn’t planned on a career dealing with elections.
“I didn’t choose the job so much as the job chose me,’’ Cruz said with a laugh. “I had been working at another job when my daughter got sick and I needed to be with her. A friend of mine told me they needed a person to do Spanish translations. They also were willing to work with my schedule so I could be with my daughter while she was sick. I’ve been here ever since.’’
Cruz started as a clerk registering people to vote, doing data entry, answering phones and, at the time, was the main person used for any Spanish translations or dealing with customers who only spoke Spanish.
“I was the language assistance coordinator for three or four years,’’ Cruz said. “Then I moved on to being the front office manager.’’
After serving as the front office manager, Cruz was promoted to voter services director in 2008.
In her position, she oversees all voter services staff members and their training, assists in the coordination of early voting and precincts for elections, implements legislative changes according to statutory requirements, coordinates countywide voter notifications such as sending voter information cards and maintaining the list of registered voters as well as overseeing candidate services and training programs.
Cruz, who is married and has three children, said in her 18 years at the Osceola County elections office that there isn’t one aspect of the job she dislikes.
“I know that sounds strange but I really love my job. I like the feeling that we are helping someone vote and have his or her voice heard,’’ Cruz said. “I like watching the whole process from beginning to end, from registering someone to vote to processing that request to knowing that on Election Day that person will be casting their vote because of what I did. It is a great feeling. I don’t think a lot of people really know what we do here throughout the year and what an important job it is.’’
Cruz said it was the foresight of the new supervisor that allowed her to participate in the CERA program.
“Mary Jane felt it was important for staff to grow professionally and for us to become immersed in the field of elections. It took 18 years and a new supervisor to get this opportunity. I am really excited about it,’’ Cruz said.
Arrington said she considers the certification program a priority and would like to send a staff member each year to start the training process.
“I think continuing education is an important part of any job,’’ Arrington said.
Cruz agrees with her boss on continuing education.
In addition to working full-time at the elections office and spending time with her family, Cruz is pursuing her bachelor’s degree in public administration.