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About the Supervisor

 

"As your Supervisor of Elections and a public servant, I will be accountable, accessible and available to the citizens of Alachua County." — Kim A. Barton

 

Kim A. Barton was elected Alachua County Supervisor of Elections in August 2016 and reelected without opposition in 2020. When Barton was first elected in 2016, she became the first Black person to serve as Alachua County Supervisor of Elections. She is chiefly responsible for administering elections and voter registration in the county. She takes great pride in the fact that it is her responsibility to serve all Alachua County residents.  

The daughter of Everett Davis Jr. and Gertrude Davis, Barton was born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee. After graduating from high school in 1980, she received a basketball scholarship to attend Connors State College in Warner, Oklahoma. She led her team to its first National Junior College Athletic Association Tournament and was named a First-Team NJCAA All-American. Barton was recruited by Debbie Yow to play NCAA Division I women’s basketball for Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma. When Yow became the head coach of the University of Florida women’s basketball team, Barton followed and became a proud “Lady Gator.”   

Barton graduated from the University of Florida in 1985 with a degree in advertising from the College of Journalism and Communications. Following graduation, she worked as a public assistance specialist for the Florida Department of Health and Rehabilitative Service’s Medically Needy Program and then as program coordinator for the department’s One Church, One Child adoption program, where she was responsible for identifying prospective adoptive families for black children in the foster care system.

She came to the Alachua County Supervisor of Elections office in 1993 as its first outreach coordinator, working under then-Supervisor Beverly Hill. In 2006, she was promoted to outreach director by former Supervisor of Elections Pam Carpenter, a position she served in until her election.

She credits her passion for voting and civic engagement to her parents, who were very involved in civil rights era community organizing and participated in get-out-the-vote and voter registration efforts.

A member of the Florida Supervisors of Elections, Barton has served on the association’s education, ERIC (Electronic Registration Information Center) implementation, legislative and scholarship committees and on the Board of Directors. Currently serving on the association's education committee, she is also a member of the Election Center, a graduate of The Gainesville Sun's Focus on Leadership Program (Class of 1994), and a past member of Florida Civic Advance's Voter Education and Civic Engagement Workgroup. Supervisor Barton is a Master Florida Certified Elections Professional (MFCEP). In 2020, she joined the University of Florida's University Athletic Association Board of Directors and in 2021, she became a member of the Gainesville Chapter of The Links, Incorporated. In 2022, she was appointed to the position of Board Alumnus Member of Oak Hammock at the University of Florida, Inc. She is a member of the Greater Gainesville Chamber of Commerce.

Barton’s husband, James, is a retired state of Florida correctional officer. The two are active members of Gainesville’s Compassionate Outreach Ministries. When not at work, she enjoys empowering and impacting the lives of youth in the community and her church.  

 

News

Gainesville Sun: Kim A. Barton: Voter registration deadline: the first step to getting ready for November (September 2022)

Gainesville Sun: Kim A. Barton: Election Day is your last opportunity to vote, not your first (August 2022)

Gainesville Sun: Kim A. Barton: Redistricting: what you need to know for August and November (May 2022)

Gainesville Sun: Gainesville City Commission runoff is a new chance to make your voice heard (January 2022)

Gainesville Sun: Kim A. Barton: Everything You Need to Know About the Upcoming Gainesville City Commission Election (November 2021)

Gainesville Sun: Kim A. Barton: Be Prepared for Changes in Gainesville City Commission Special Election (September 2021)

Gainesville Sun: Kim A. Barton: Alachua County will adjust to election changes (May 2021) 

Gainesville Sun: Kim A. Barton: Learn more about elections in Florida (April 2021) 

Gainesville Sun: Kim A. Barton: Register to vote in city election (February 2021) 

Gainesville Sun: Kim A. Barton: Election Day is almost here (November 2020)

Gainesville Sun: Kim A. Barton: Whatever method you choose, voting is encouraged (October 2020) 

Gainesville Sun: Kim A. Barton: Voters should be prepared for fall election (September 2020)

Gainesville Sun: Kim A. Barton: Plan ahead before voting in primary (August 2020)

Gainesville Sun: Kim A. Barton: A few notes for the 2020 primary election (July 2020)

Gainesville Sun: Kim A. Barton: Voting by mail is safe, secure (June 2020)

Gainesville Sun: Kim A. Barton: Election Day is approaching (March 2020) 

Gainesville Sun: Kim A. Barton: Closed primaries a reality of Florida elections (February 2020) 

Gainesville Sun: Kim A. Barton: Prepare yourself for the 2020 elections (January 2020)

Gainesville Sun: Kim A. Barton and Michael D. Bruckman: Postal changes negatively impact overseas voters (September 2019)

Gainesville Sun: Kim A. Barton: Prepare yourself for election changes (August 2019)

Gainesville Sun: Kim A. Barton: Kick the trend of low city voter turnout (March 2019)

Gainesville Sun: Kim A. Barton: Expanded early voting part of city election changing (February 2019)

Gainesville Sun: Kim A. Barton: Voter registration process is simple for former felons (January 2019)

Gainesville Sun: Kim A. Barton: A primer on voting in the upcoming election (October 2018)

Gainesville Sun: Kim A. Barton: Poll workers help others exercise their right to vote (September 2018)

Gainesville Sun: Kim A. Barton: Have a say in deciding upcoming elections (August 2018)

Gainesville Sun: Kim A. Barton: Your ballot is safe (July 2018)

Gainesville Sun: Kim A. Barton: Consider your voting options (June 2018)

Gainesville Sun: Kim A. Barton: Fall ballot will be longest in 20 years (May 2018)

Gainesville Sun: Kim A. Barton: Spread the word about runoff election (April 2018)

Gainesville Sun: Kim A. Barton: Be vocal, vote local (March 2018)

Home: Living in Greater Gainesville: A Voter-First Approach to Elections (February/March 2018)

Gainesville Sun: Kim A. Barton: Create culture of engagement for young residents (February 2018)

Gainesville Sun: Kim A. Barton: Become more civically engaged in 2018 (January 2018)

 

Awards

Women Who Make a Difference Honoree | Girl Scouts of Gateway Council (2019) 

Black Woman of Distinction | Actors' Warehouse (2019)

Rosa Parks Quiet Courage Award | Rosa Parks Quiet Courage Committee (2018)

Outstanding Elected Official | League of Women Voters of Alachua County/Gainesville (2018) 

Professional of the Month | Gainesville Black Professionals (2017)

Violette Anderson Award | Delta Sigma Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. (2017)

Eleanor Roosevelt Award for Outstanding Contributions in Public Policy | Alachua County Democratic Executive Committee (2017)

Ebony Appreciation Legacy Award: Pioneering Spirit in the Area of Community Service (2013)

Outstanding Community Service Award | League of Women Voters of Alachua County (2009)

Barbara Higgins Award for Community Service | Alachua County Democratic Black Caucus (2008)

Alachua County Community Service Award | Citizens Academy for Community Service (2007)

Connors State College Athletic Hall of Fame | Connors State College Athletics (2012 — Inaugural Class)