Lori Edwards happily recalls her first day in a civics class as a seventh-grader at Sarasota Junior High School.
“It was like the lights came on, and I have had a passion for our democratic process, including our legislative process, just the whole government, ever since,” Edwards said. “And I consider myself blessed in that way, because so many people have to kind of find what their thing is. This found me when I was, like, 12.”
For the past 24 years, Edwards has played an integral role in the democratic process as Polk County supervisor of elections. After conducting more than 200 elections, Edwards will leave office on Jan. 6, having lost her bid in November for a seventh term.
Melony Bell , a Republican and former state representative, gained 53.9% of the vote to 46.1% for Edwards, who ran as a no-party candidate.
Edwards, 67, is tied with Polk County Property Appraiser Marsha Faux for second in longevity among the county’s constitutional officers. Faux is also leaving office after deciding not to seek another term. Tax Collector Joe Tedder has been in office since 1997.