[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 176 (Wednesday, November 19, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2255]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   IN RECOGNITION OF THE RETIREMENT OF PAT HOLLARN, OKALOOSA COUNTY 
                        SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JEFF MILLER

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 19, 2008

  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Madam Speaker, on behalf of the United States 
Congress, it is an honor for me to rise today in recognition of Pat 
Hollarn upon her retirement as Okaloosa County Supervisor of Elections.
  For over twenty years Pat Hollarn has ensured the process of fair and 
balanced voting. As Supervisor of Elections for Okaloosa, County, Ms. 
Hollarn has distinguished herself as a champion of increasing voter 
turnout, voting access, and overall knowledge of the electoral process. 
With incredible foresight and a keen understanding of the needs of the 
community, Ms. Hollarn paired advanced technology with the voting 
booth, serving at the forefront of the Internet voting project. This 
project has enabled voting access to disabled voters and military 
personnel serving oversees. Operation Bravo, a program founded by Ms. 
Hollarn to alleviate the problem of servicemen and women not receiving 
their absentee ballots while abroad, has made it significantly easier 
for troops and other Americans living oversees to vote. Additionally, 
Ms. Hollarn stresses the importance of voter education with programs 
like ``Kids Voting'' and ``Kids Vote Too'' which relay the practice and 
privilege of voting to a younger audience.
  Ms. Hollarn's dedication to the civic realm spans far beyond her 
current position of supervisor of elections. Ms. Hollarn's resume is 
clustered with board and committee memberships as well as numerous 
positions in various organizations. Chambers of Commerce, The Bidgeway 
Center, and the North Okaloosa American Cancer Society highlight the 
longstanding career Ms. Hollarn has fashioned out of civic duty and 
community service.
  Madam Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I am proud to 
honor Pat Hollarn for her enduring allegiance to the voting process and 
the subsequent benefits such dedication has provided for the First 
District of Florida.

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