GOVERNOR CRIST ANNOUNCES STATEWIDE CENSUS COMMITTEE
~~ ~Calls on Floridians to help ensure accurate 2010 Florida Census~ ~~
February 26, 2009
Contact:
GOVERNOR’S PRESS OFFICE
(850) 488-5394
TALLAHASSEE – As part of his ongoing effort to ensure Florida receives its fair share of federal funding, Governor Charlie Crist today signed Executive Order 09-41, creating the statewide 2010 Sunshine Census Complete Count Committee, and appointed 45 Floridians to serve on the committee. The committee members represent a wide array of community-based and faith-based organizations, local governments, media and advertising groups, and businesses in order to ensure an accurate count of the people who reside in Florida in 2010.
“The diversity of Florida’s cultures, backgrounds and experiences is quite possibly our state’s greatest strength, and we must do all we can to ensure an accurate count of every Florida resident during the 2010 Census,” Governor Crist said. “I encourage every Floridian to get involved in reaching every person in every community so that we can ensure Florida receives her fair share of representation in Washington, D.C., during the next decade.”
The statewide Complete Count Committee mirrors Florida’s diverse population and is fundamental to the 2010 Sunshine Census. The committee members represent Florida’s diverse geography and population, as well as many organizations throughout the state. Every member on the committee offers a unique perspective and will help promote many different channels and mediums of exposure. These individuals represent various groups and will help identify strategies for reaching specifically targeted groups and communities. Many counties and cities have organized Complete Count Committees of their own.
The target of the census is to count every man, woman and child who lives in Florida. To help achieve this goal, the Complete Count Committee will focus on reaching populations that have historically had a low response rate, including African-Americans, migrant workers, Hispanics, immigrants, children, Asian-Americans and young adult males. Governor Crist recently called on Adora Obi Nweze of Miami, president of the Florida State Conference of the NAACP, to serve as Special Advisor to the Governor on Minority Affairs. She will assist the committee in identifying strategies for achieving a successful census.
All members are appointed for a term beginning February 26, 2009, and ending December 31, 2010. They are:
• Richard Crotty, Mayor of Orange County, appointed by Governor Crist to serve as chair.
• Lois A. Herron of St. Petersburg, representing AARP Florida.
• Linda Grisham of Tampa, director of Adult Migrant Program and Services.
• Rebecca Rust of Tallahassee, chief of Bureau of Labor Market and Performance Information within the Agency for Workforce Innovation.
• Jose’ Gonzalez of Tallahassee, vice president of government affairs for Associated Industries of Florida.
• Diane McCain of Tallahassee, director of external relations for the Board of Governors, State University System of Florida.
• Arturo Lopez of Florida City, executive director of the Coalition of Florida Farm Workers.
• Guylene Berry of Hialeah, community relations advisor for the City of Miami.
• James Miller of Tallahassee, public information officer for the Florida Department of Community Affairs.
• Taroub King of Tallahassee, director of communications for the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
• Joy Bruce M.D. of Lauderdale Lakes, representing the Filipino-American Community in South Florida.
• Leilani Fontanilla of Davenport, council chair for the Filipino-American Organizations in Central Florida.
• Pat Roberts of Tallahassee, president and chief executive officer of the Florida Association of Broadcasters.
• Davin Suggs of Tallahassee, senior legislative advocate for the Florida Association of Counties.
• Marina Pavlov of Miami Lakes, president of the Florida Association of Nonprofit Organizations.
• Janice Caluda of Tallahassee, vice president of operations for the Florida Cable Telecommunications Association.
• Michele Taylor of Tallahassee, associate of communications for the Florida Catholic Conference.
• Tony Carvajal of Tallahassee, executive vice president of the Florida Chamber of Commerce.
• Dennis Baxley of Ocala, executive director of the Florida Christian Coalition.
• Freyja Harris of Tallahassee, program director for the Florida Coalition for the Homeless.
• Hue Reynolds of Tallahassee, deputy director of communications for the Florida Department of Education.
• Mary Oakley of Tallahassee, policy and research coordinator for the Florida Department of Elder Affairs.
• Carol Westmoreland of Tallahassee, associate director of membership development for the Florida League of Cities.
• Pegeen Hanrahan of Gainesville, president and mayor of Gainesville, Florida League of Mayors.
• Charlotte Brand Audie of Tallahassee, president and chief executive officer of the Florida Outdoor Advertising Association Inc.
• Chris Smith of Tallahassee, account manager with the Florida Press Association.
• Ron Book of Aventura, executive director of the Florida Regional Planning Councils.
• Candice Lankford of Deland, treasurer with the Florida School Board Association.
• Adora Obi Nweze of Miami, president of the Florida State Conference of NAACP Branches and Special Advisor to the Governor for Minority Affairs.
• Lance Lozano of Tallahassee, chief operating officer of the Florida United Businesses Association.
• Michelle Hughes of Jacksonville, director of Communities and Powering Youth Program with Fresh Ministries.
• Scott VanDeman of Tallahassee, director of communications for the Governor’s Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service.
• Joe A. Quetone of Tallahassee, executive director of the Governor’s Council on Indian Affairs Inc.
• Francois Guillaume of Miami, president of the Haitian-American Chamber of Commerce of Florida.
• Maria Pinzon of Tampa, director of the Hispanic Services Council.
• Thayumanasam Somasundaram of Tallahassee, representing Indian communities in Florida.
• Belinda Keiser of Fort Lauderdale, vice chancellor of community relations and student advancement for Keiser University.
• Marytza Sanz of Orlando, president of Latino Leadership Inc.
• Allen Douglas of Tallahassee, Florida’s legislative affairs director for the National Federation of Independent Businesses.
• Luis De Rosa of Miami, president of the Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce of South Florida.
• Al Fernandez of Miami, director of South Florida Urban Impact Ministries.
• Ted Granger of Tallahassee, president of the United Way of Florida.
• T.W. Fair of Miami, president of the Urban League of Greater Miami.
• Patrick Franklin of West Palm Beach, president of the Urban League of Palm Beach County.
• David Rosemond of Miami, director of the City of Miami’s Neighborhood Enhancement Team.
The following legislators will serve as delegates to the Complete Count Committee:
• Senator Mike Haridopolos.
• Senator Christopher “Chris” Smith.
• Representative Dean Cannon.
• Representative Perry Thurston Jr.
• Representative Hazelle P. Rogers.
Timeline for the 2010 Sunshine Census
During February and March 2010, census questionnaires will be mailed or delivered to every household throughout Florida and are due to be returned by mail by Census Day, which is April 1, 2010. These short forms take only minutes to fill out, but will have an impact on Florida’s future for the next 10 years. Between April and July 2010, census takers will visit households that did not return a questionnaire by mail. In December 2010, the Census Bureau will deliver population counts to the President of the United States for apportionment, the process of proportionately dividing the 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives among the 50 states.
Information obtained by Census Bureau employees is kept with strict confidentiality. Census Bureau employees have taken an oath to protect confidentiality and are subject to a jail term, fine – or both – for disclosing any information that could identify a respondent of a household. This door-to-door collection of census data lasts through July 2010.
About the Census
The census is a count of everyone living in the United States and is conducted every 10 years as mandated by the United States Constitution, Article 1, Section 2. The census is the foundation for measuring the nation’s population and includes all persons dwelling in U.S. residential structures, including citizens and non-citizens.
The first nationwide census was taken in 1790 by the U.S. marshals on horseback and counted 3.9 million people. The first Florida census was taken in 1830 when Florida was still a territory and counted 34,730 people. The most recent census was taken in 2000 and counted more than 281 million people nationwide and approximately 15.9 million in Florida. When the census first began in 1790, its sole purpose was to determine the number of seats each state had in the U.S. House of Representatives. Today, in addition to this purpose, the U.S. Census also affects the amount of federal funding received by the states, counties and cities.
For more information, please visit www.SunshineCensus2010.com.
STATE OF FLORIDA
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
EXECUTIVE ORDER NUMBER 09-41
(Organization of the 2010 Census Statewide Complete Count Committee)
WHEREAS, the United States Census Bureau has advised the State of Florida that the organization of a Statewide Complete Count Committee could greatly improve the State’s accuracy in the 2010 Census; and
WHEREAS, Florida’s population has significantly grown since Census 2000 indicating the 2010 decennial census is a larger undertaking than previous censuses; and
WHEREAS, Complete Count Committees have been organized since the 1980 decennial census and have engaged people across the State of Florida to reach out to members of their community and create, implement, and promote the Census effort; and
WHEREAS, it is in Florida’s best interest to implement a Statewide Complete Count Committee for the 2010 Decennial Census;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, CHARLIE CRIST, as Governor of Florida, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the laws and Constitution of the State of Florida, issue the following Executive Order, effective immediately:
Section 1
The 2010 Census Statewide Complete Count Committee shall be organized to assist the United States Census Bureau in conducting the 2010 Census. The Committee will be active in planning, promoting, and implementing an action plan, in conjunction with county complete count committees and local communities, to obtain an accurate count of Florida’s population.
Section 2
The Governor shall appoint a committee chairperson to oversee the activities of the 2010 Census Statewide Complete Count Committee for a term beginning February 26, 2009, and ending December 31, 2010.
Section 3
The Committee shall consist of 60 members. The Governor shall appoint Committee members with knowledge of Florida’s diverse population communities for a term beginning on February 26, 2009, and ending December 31, 2010. If necessary, appointments to vacancies will be made by the Governor.
Section 4
The Committee shall be administratively housed in the Governor’s Office of Policy and Budget.
Section 5
Part of the Committee’s action plan will include public outreach that may or may not include the use of paid media. Any contracts with private sector providers shall be subject to bid processes detailed in Florida Statutes and rules.
Section 6
All Committee meetings are subject to Open Government requirements of Florida law. All documents received or generated by the Committee shall be subject to Florida public records laws.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of Florida to be affixed, at Tallahassee, this 26th day of February, 2009.
Charlie Crist
Attest:
Kurt Browning
Secretary of State