[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 32 (Wednesday, February 26, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E255-E256]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             RECOGNIZING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF LORI EDWARDS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ALAN GRAYSON

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 26, 2014

  Mr. GRAYSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Women's History 
Month, to recognize the service of Lori Edwards. Lori has been the 
Supervisor of Elections in Polk County, Florida, since January 2001. As 
the Executive Officer responsible for administering fair elections, 
maintaining voter rolls, and providing voter registration services, 
Lori has conducted more than 150 successful elections while serving in 
this non-partisan elected position.
  Lori is active in the leadership of the Florida State Association of 
Supervisors of Elections, where she currently serves as president. She 
has created a task force to recruit and train bilingual election 
workers to ensure Florida's growing population of Hispanic voters are 
accommodated. She has also conducted many regional educational 
workshops for election administrators focusing on a variety of topics 
including redistricting, voter education and absentee voting.
  Lori's recent efforts have included an emphasis on modernizing 
Florida's voter registration system and advocating for the advancement 
in voting machine technology nationwide.
  As a member of the U.S. Elections Assistance Commission (EAC) 
Standards Board, she serves with advisors from around the nation who 
review voluntary voting system guidelines and provide guidance to the 
EAC on the administration of Federal elections.
  In addition to state certification in her field, Lori earned 
designation as a Certified Elections Registration Administrator from 
The Election Center in cooperation with Auburn University. This is the 
profession's highest recognition, and serves as national certification. 
Most recently, she attended the International Center for Parliamentary 
Studies in London, England where she earned a Professional Certificate 
in Electoral Processes.
  Prior to her service as Supervisor of Elections, Lori served four 
two-year terms in the Florida House of Representatives representing the 
residents of eastern Polk County in the Florida Legislature. Her major 
legislative projects included restructuring Florida's juvenile justice 
system, performance-based budgeting, worker's compensation laws, and 
welfare reform.
  Lori has also worked for the Center for Policy Alternatives in 
Washington, DC, helping to develop curricula and train new State 
Legislators at bi-annual retreats. Training topics included conflict, 
values, power, and communications.
  A committed environmentalist, Lori served as Florida Coordinator of 
the National Audubon Society's ``Population and Habitat'' campaign, 
organizing and training Florida activists to raise awareness of the 
impact of population growth on the environment. She is currently 
studying to become a Florida Master Naturalist through the University 
of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences program.
  Lori is an alumna of Executive Education at the John F. Kennedy 
School of Government at Harvard University, where she studied the Art 
and Practice of Leadership Development and participated in a program 
for Senior Executives in State and Local Government. She was also 
chosen to participate in the Program for Emerging Political Leaders 
offered by the Darden Graduate School of Business Administration at the 
University of Virginia. Lori was a Flemming Fellow at the Center for 
Policy Alternatives in Washington, D.C. and earned her Bachelor of Arts 
in Organizational Management from Warner University in Lake Wales.
  I am happy to honor Lori Edwards, during Women's History Month, for 
her service to the Central Florida community.


      Recognizing the Contributions of Commissioner Patty Sheehan

  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Women's History Month, to 
recognize the contributions of Commissioner Patty Sheehan. Commissioner 
Sheehan was first elected to the Orlando City Council in 2000. She 
served as President of the Colonialtown North Neighborhood Association, 
and is proud to come from a servant leadership background. She attended 
the University of Central Florida where she earned her B.A. in art. 
Commissioner Sheehan was formerly an Administrator with the Florida 
Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. She serves her 
constituents full time and is well known for her advocacy of pedestrian 
safety, safe neighborhoods, historic preservation, and a thriving 
downtown.
  Currently, she serves as Vice Chair of the East Central Florida 
Regional Planning Council. The Council established some of the first 
neighborhood horizon planning processes, which led to successful 
developments like SoDo, Mills Park, and Baldwin Park.
  Commissioner Sheehan has been recognized multiple times by Orlando 
Weekly and Orlando Magazine. She was also named ``Best Elected 
Official'' by Watermark newspaper. She was listed as one of the ``Top 
25 Inflectional Women'' by Orlando Life Magazine. Commissioner Sheehan 
was also awarded the ``Diversity Champion Award'' by the Asian American 
Chamber of Commerce in 2013. She has twice been a finalist for 
``Downtowner of the Year.'' She was also recognized as a ``Woman of 
Distinction'' by the Girl Scouts of America, Citrus Council.
  Commissioner Sheehan is proudest of her role in the restoration of 
the iconic Lake Eola Fountain, the addition of 1.3 acres to Lake Eola 
Park, the preservation of the Eola House, and construction of sidewalks 
for children walking to and from school. She was the first openly gay 
elected official in Central Florida, and passed domestic partnership 
legislation and non-discrimination protections for the LGBT community. 
She is an urban agriculture advocate, and championed community gardens 
and urban chickens. She also worked with the Trust for Public Land to 
acquire the Orlando Urban Trail (OUT).
  Commissioner Sheehan is a huge supporter of small business and 
Orlando's Mainstreet Districts. She represents the Downtown South, 
Mills50 and Thornton Park Mainstreets. She also lobbied and passed a 
Florida State Law allowing for Doggie Dining on outdoor patios in 
downtown Orlando. She is also the founder and chairperson for Wheels 
for Kids, which has provided over 1,000 bicycles to needy elementary 
and middle school students in Reeves Terrace public housing.
  Commissioner Sheehan enjoys many outdoor activities including 
gardening, paddle boarding and Dragon Boat racing. As a local artist 
who exhibits her ``Bad Kitty'' paintings in local clubs and shops, she 
is an avid proponent of the Arts and Culture in Orlando. She lives in a 
1928 bungalow with her Chinese Crested dog, Maxine, Nina Simone (a diva 
kitty) and Jazz (a wild English Springer Spaniel), along with Peep, 
Cheep, & Bleep (her mini flock of urban chickens).
  I am happy to honor Commissioner Patty Sheehan, during Women's 
History Month, for her leadership and service to the Central Florida 
Community.


             Recognizing the Contributions of Anna Eskamani

  Mr. Speaker, I rise today, in honor of Women's History Month, to 
recognize Anna Eskamani. An Iranian-American and Central Florida 
native, Anna graduated from the University of Central Florida (UCF) in 
the spring of 2012 with dual degrees in Political Science and Women's 
Studies, and a Certificate in Service Learning.
  As an undergrad, Anna spent the majority of her time writing, 
advocating, and organizing for social justice. She first began her 
advocacy work in the environmental movement, but quickly became an 
advocate for international human rights via her Vice Presidency of the 
Iranian Student Organization. In the summer of 2010, Anna turned her 
focus to domestic issues, when she became Vice President of the College 
Democrats at UCF and the Women's Caucus Chair of the Florida College 
Democrats. In April 2011, Anna founded

[[Page E256]]

``Keep PBS In Orlando,'' an initiative to preserve Central Florida's 
local PBS station. The campaign helped create WUCF-TV.
  Anna continued to write, not only in leading publications like The 
Huffington Post and Orlando Sentinel, but also academically. In March 
2011, Anna completed her undergraduate honors thesis focusing on 
feminism in Iran. Anna presented her thesis, which received high 
remarks, at several research conferences.
  Upon graduation Anna was awarded the Order of Pegasus, the highest 
honor that a UCF senior can receive. She also graduated with the 
highest GPA in the College of Undergraduate Studies, an achievement 
that allowed her to be a part of UCF's Platform Party during 
commencement ceremonies.
  Anna didn't stop there. Now a graduate student at UCF pursuing dual 
master's degrees in Public Administration and Nonprofit Management, 
Anna works full-time at Planned Parenthood of Greater Orlando as the 
organization's External Affairs Manager. In her position, Anna 
maintains the organization's development and public affairs programs.
  Anna continues to be very involved in the UCF and Central Florida 
community. In February 2013, she launched an on-campus initiative 
called ``Project Bithlo,'' with the goal of engaging UCF students, 
faculty, and staff in the transformative work occurring in the 
historically neglected community of Bithlo. Only a year after its 
founding, Project Bithlo has connected hundreds of UCF students to 
Bithlo. The project is succeeding in bringing together both the College 
Democrats and College Republicans in an effort to show solidary with 
the families of this overlooked community.
  Anna also sits on the board of numerous organizations, including the 
Orange County League of Women Voters, Orange County Democratic 
Executive Committee, Democratic Women's Club of Greater Orlando, 
Democratic Women's Club Florida, UCF Women's Studies Advisory Council, 
and Planned Parenthood's Network of Volunteer Advocates.
  A lifelong feminist, Anna is excited to continue her work to better 
the lives of women and her local community.
  I am happy to honor Anna Eskamani, during Women's History Month, for 
her leadership and service to the Central Florida community.


             Recognizing the Leadership of Ida V. Eskamani

  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Women's History Month, to 
recognize Ida V. Eskamani, a young woman with a passion for public 
service. A first-generation Iranian-American born and raised in 
Orlando, Florida, Ms. Eskamani believes that individual success is 
directly tied to the success of her community, and is committed to 
serving underserved and underrepresented communities.
  She began her career in public service as an undergraduate at the 
University of Central Florida (UCF), where she was active in several 
campus organizations focused on women's rights, equality, environmental 
justice, and social justice. As President of the College Democrats at 
UCF, she worked to empower and educate thousands of students through 
voter registration drives, rallies, and marches, and established the 
organization as an integral part of Central Florida's progressive 
movement. Ms. Eskamani earned dual degrees from UCF in Political 
Science and Sociology in 2012. She was also awarded the national 
President's Service Award for devoting more than 500 hours to community 
service in a 12-month period; as well as UCF's most prestigious award, 
the Order of Pegasus, for exemplary achievements in academics, service, 
and leadership.
  Following graduation, Ms. Eskamani led the development team of the 
Orange County Democratic Party, helping them to break fundraising 
records. She also joined Senator Bill Nelson's re-election campaign as 
the youngest staff member, working as a Press and Research Assistant. 
Following the 2012 elections, Ida was selected out of thousands of 
applicants to serve as a White House Intern in the Office of 
Presidential Personnel for the spring 2013 term. Upon her return to the 
Sunshine State, she spent her time as a Digital and Community Organizer 
with Florida CHAIN, an organization dedicated to increasing access to 
affordable healthcare, and as a member of the finance team for State 
Representative Joe Saunders' re-election campaign.
  Ms. Eskamani joined Equality Florida, the states' lesbian, gay, 
bisexual, and transgender civil rights organization in 2014 as a 
Development Associate based in Orlando. In her role she assists in 
organizing and executing fundraising and development programs in 
Sarasota, Orlando, Jacksonville, and Tallahassee. She is also currently 
pursuing dual master's degrees in Public Administration and Nonprofit 
Management at UCF.
  I am happy to honor Ida Eskamani, during Women's History Month, for 
her leadership and service to the Central Florida community.

                          ____________________