The Election Center has designated Chairwoman Lilliana Belardo De O’Neal, members Lisa Harris-Moorhead, Raymond J. Williams and Supervisor of Elections Caroline F. Fawkes as Certified Elections/Registration Administrators (CERA), the highest professional achievement. They were announced in ceremonies conducted by the Election Center at The Hilton Hotel at Penn’s Landing, Philadelphia, Penn., held at noon on Friday, Aug. 19.
CERA designation is achieved only through a multi-year course of study conducted by The Election Center’s Professional Education Program and completion of 12 core courses taught by Auburn University’s Master’s in Public Administration faculty (Auburn, Ala.), which ranged from ethics, voter registration, elections law, planning and communications to voter participation, among others.
The intent of the program is to professionalize the management of voter registration and elections administration in promoting and preserving public trust in the democratic process.
“This is the highest designation available to elections and voter registration officials,” said Tim Mattice, director of the center. “This graduating class of 61 professionals takes us to 980 election officials and election vendors who have achieved the CERA status. This is an outstanding accomplishment.”
“The Virgin Islands is indeed fortunate to have Chairwoman Lilliana Belardo De O’Neal, members Lisa Harris-Moorhead, Raymond J. Williams and Supervisor of Elections Caroline F. Fawkes as some of the top designated professionals in America. Obtaining and maintaining CERA status means that they have committed to a career-long process of continuing education to improve the electoral process in the Virgin Islands and the nation,” said Mattice.
The Election Center is a non-profit association of voter registrars and elections administrators throughout the United States. Its membership is comprised of township, city, county and state elections officials as well as other election related corporations. The center’s primary purpose is education for local and state voter registrars and elections officials to promote and improve the democratic process. Professional Education Program participants receive continuing education credit from Auburn University as well as professional training credits from the center.
The four Virgin Islanders who have just been certified believe, “Democracy is a fragile concept; we could lose it easily if we misuse or abuse the process. This program reminds us of our part in maintaining and protecting democratic principles. It also teaches excellent management skills directly related to voter registration and elections”
