Succeeding Ertel

Your editorial commending Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis’ choice of Mike Ertel as his Secretary of State (“Seminole’s Ertel a good pick, but he has lots of work ahead,” Jan. 3) was right on point throughout. Especially accurate were your last paragraphs advising DeSantis to begin his search for Ertel’s successor as Seminole County Supervisor of Elections among Ertel’s excellent staff in Seminole.

Ertel’s chief deputy, Rebecca Quinn, has been Ertel’s right arm since his first days in the post. Quinn knows every detail of the office’s operations and has unfailingly succeeded in improving every aspect of the voting process as directed by Ertel. Ertel would confirm that Quinn has been a large factor in his success in Seminole County. She listens to every comment or suggestion from the voters and her staff and makes sure to share and consider the valid ideas as well as any negatives with Ertel. They were a great team.

I am proud to have served as an election worker throughout Ertel’s term, as well as several of his predecessors’. The improvements in every aspect of the voting mechanism during the Ertel/Quinn years have been inspiring to those of us working the system and quite evident to many of the voters of all parties as evidenced by their compliments.

DeSantis would be doing himself and the voters of Seminole County a giant favor if he would pursue Rebecca Quinn for the job and convince her to take over. I’m not sure she wants the job, but we want her.

Russ Colvin Lake Mary