On April 28, 2023, Diane Preston Moore, President of LWVCC delivered the following remarks at the celebration for Jennifer Edwards, retiring Supervisor Of Elections,
Good evening! I am Diane Preston Moore, President of the LWVCC. First, I would like thank the Kiwanis and Republican clubs for hosting this event to honor Jennifer Edwards and for allowing me to say a few words in Jennifer’s honor. I, along with many members of the League, am here tonight because the mission of the League of Women Voters is deeply rooted in voting. In 1920, the leaders of the women’s suffrage movement formed the League in order to teach 20 million new women voters to vote. Over 100 years later, the League remains nonpartisan, and voting is still at the core of what we do. It’s in our name! We believe that the foundation of our democracy is the integrity of our vote. So the League is grateful for the tremendous impact Jennifer Edwards has had as Supervisor of Elections. It may be fair to say that no one in our county has done more to ensure the integrity of our elections than Jennifer, and the League has witnessed this firsthand. League members regularly complement the work of the Elections office by registering voters, serving as poll workers on Election Day, observing the work of the Canvassing Board, and providing information to voters about the process of voting. While there is more to Jennifer than just her work, over the past 23 years, her name became synonymous with her office. From upgrades in technology to changes in voting laws to welcoming the public in to see exactly what the Elections Office does, she lead the office with unquestionable integrity, transparency and grace. She earned the confidence and respect of Collier County citizens across the board, and she did it all with a smile and a “can-do” attitude. Some superheroes wear capes. Others, like Jennifer, wear cowboy boots. She has mentored a terrific team in the Elections Office and we are confident that her team is more than capable of building on her legacy. But Jennifer’s boots will be hard to fill. The League of Women Voters is proud to have worked with you, Jennifer. We are proud to have you as a member of the League, and we are grateful for your legacy. We wish you much relaxation in your well-deserved retirement. Thank you.
League members who attended the celebration, from left: Beth VanDamme, Lynn Martin, Julie Wade, Diane Preston Moore, Jennifer Edwards, Tina Palmese, Laura Hansen Reynolds, Sue Savage