Orange County Florida Chief Elections Administrator Receives Heartfelt Thanks as She Transitions to New Role, Interim Chief Appointed

[ORLANDO, FL] - April 12, 2024 – Orange County Supervisor of Elections extends its deepest gratitude and warmest wishes to Marisa Crispell as she embarks on an exciting new chapter in her esteemed career with the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections.

Throughout her tenure as the Chief Elections Administrator of Orange County, Marisa Crispell has exemplified unwavering dedication, professionalism, and integrity in ensuring the integrity and efficiency of our electoral processes. Joining the Orange County Supervisor of Elections in 2019 as Deputy Director of Voter Services, Marisa's exceptional leadership qualities quickly earned her promotion to Director of Voter Services just three months later. In 2021, Marisa's stellar performance and dedication led to yet another promotion, this time to Director of Election Administration, overseeing four critical departments including Voter Services, Customer Relations, Vote-By-Mail Services, and Elections.

"We are saddened to see Marisa leave as her leadership and dedication have been invaluable to our team," said Supervisor of Elections Glen Gilzean. "However, we are thrilled for her advancement and know she will continue to excel in her new role. Marisa's impact will be felt for years to come, and we wish her all the best in this new chapter of her career."

Marisa led her team through multiple legislative changes while being tasked with creating processes for even more transparency and public observation that did not exist prior to the new laws being implemented. Her dedication and expertise in navigating these changes led to Marisa being invited to present at a statewide conference on the new observation process as a result of Florida S.B. 90.

Among her proudest accomplishments, Marisa implemented tiered positions within the voter services departments, creating a path for internal promotion and professional growth. She aimed to enhance the voter experience by redesigning the front office to be welcoming and provide efficient service to any residents who visited the office.

As Marisa Crispell embarks on this new journey with the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections, she brings with her 25 years of valuable elections experience. We express our heartfelt appreciation for her invaluable contributions to Orange County, and we are confident that Marisa will bring her expertise and leadership to continue to uphold the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and accessibility in the electoral processes of Pinellas County.

We also welcome Lucy Meléndez as the interim Chief Elections Administrator for Orange County. A native of Puerto Rico who made Central Florida her home, Lucy has dedicated her 22-year career to voter services and election administration for the Orange County Supervisor of Elections. Currently serving as the Director of Voter Services, Ms. Melendez started in 2004 as Community Outreach Coordinator and progressively worked her way up to Vote by Mail Manager, then was promoted to Voter Services Systems Manager. With her extensive experience in voter services and community engagement, her interim role ensures continuity and excellence in electoral administration during this transitional period.

Marisa Crispell will be overseeing the three largest departments in the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections office, including Voter Services, Poll Workers, and Operations, further demonstrating her capability and leadership in the electoral field.

Thank you, Marisa Crispell, for your service, unwavering dedication, and enduring commitment to democracy. Orange County is immensely grateful for your leadership, and we look forward to witnessing your continued impact on the electoral landscape of Pinellas County.

Together, Marisa Crispell and Lucy Meléndez represent nearly 50 years of dedication to upholding the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and accessibility in Orange County's electoral processes and we look forward to witnessing Lucy's continued impact on the electoral landscape of Orange County.

The Supervisor of Elections will be seeking to permanently fill the position in the days and weeks to come.  For those interested in joining the team, please visit our website at https://www.ocfelections.gov/employment-opportunities.