My PR Perspective: CWC-FPRA Member Rachel Denton

“My PR Perspective” is a series of blog posts where we ask our chapter members to give us their different perspectives of the PR profession.

Name: Rachel Denton

What is your job title?

Communications and Voter Outreach Manager, Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections

In a few sentences, describe what you do.

I coordinate communications and outreach for the Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections office, including internal and external communications. I also coordinate our voter education and outreach efforts. Per state law, we visit every high school and college/university in Sarasota County at a minimum of once a year and provide a robust voter education and registration program. I have the privilege of teaching students how to vote and then registering them to vote. I have helped register over a thousand students to vote!

How did you get to this point in your career?

After working in the state legislature as a district aide, writing social media for two celebrities in the direct sales industry and managing communications for the Sarasota County Arts and Cultural Alliance, I have found my dream job at the Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections office. It is an honor to work for the people, the voters of Sarasota County, and to work for my mentor, Supervisor of Elections Ron Turner.

Do you tell people you work in ‘PR?’ Why or why not?

Yes. It’s an exciting and fast paced industry. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of it?

How would you describe an average public relations job?

To inform the public about what your company or organization does.

How is what you do different?

While I inform the public about what our office does, I also get to immerse myself in the elections process. Our office conducts all federal, state and local elections in Sarasota County in accordance with federal and state election laws. Learning these laws intricately and communicating how our office conducts elections with these laws to the public is a real privilege for me.

What do you wish more people inside your organization understood about what you do?

I think our organization has a great respect and understanding for the communications of our office.

What do you wish more people outside your organization understood about what you do?

Working in the elections office is an experience unlike any other I have ever had. We are a strong, dedicated team who work hard to ensure fair, accessible and secure elections. Leading up to the November 3, 2020 General (Presidential) Election, we were working seven days a week. Our lives were the election and it was exciting! I was working with reporters from the New York Times to SNN, the Suncoast News Network. We were answering messages from voters on social media 24/7. We went to every length to ensure our voters were educated and assisted.

How has CWC-FPRA been a positive part of your professional development?

Oh, in so many ways! I served on the CWC-FPRA board for three years and now serve as a committee member. CWC-FPRA has been instrumental for me professionally and personally. I have learned more about my craft and met some of my closest friends. Thank you, CWC-FPRA!