Misplaced Pages

Patricia Gerard

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
American politician
Patricia Gerard
Member of the Pinellas County Commission
from the 2nd district
In office
2014–2022
Preceded byNorm Roche
Succeeded byBrian Scott
Mayor of Largo, Florida
In office
2006–2014
Preceded byRobert E. Jackson
Succeeded byWoody Brown
Personal details
BornPaterson, New Jersey, U.S.
EducationUniversity of South Florida (BA, MA)

Patricia "Pat" Gerard is a Democratic politician. From 2014 to 2022, she was a member of the Pinellas County Commission from the 2nd District. Previously, she served as mayor for the city of Largo, Florida.

Career

She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and a Master of Arts in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of South Florida. Gerard was a mental health worker in a community-based rehabilitation program after graduating from USF. From 1984 to 1986 she worked as Victim's Advocate for the Largo Police Department. From 1986 to 1992 she worked as director of the Spouse Abuse Shelter of Religious Community Services, where she stayed until 1992. After that, she worked for Family Resources, Inc. as Executive Director of Helpline. She is currently their COO.

She has served on numerous boards, including Suncoast Tiger Bay Board, the Business and Professional Women of St. Petersburg, Leadership Pinellas, Pinellas County Homeless Leadership Board, the United Way Council, Pinellas County Victim Rights Coalition, Pinellas County Domestic Violence Task Force, Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Governor's Coordinating Council on Victim's Rights, and the Florida Alliance of Information and Referral Services Board.

Political career

She was elected to the City Commission in 2000 and again in 2003. She became mayor by defeating her predecessor, Robert E. Jackson, in 2006 in a bitterly contested race.

Gerard and Commissioner Rodney Woods were the two dissenting votes when the Largo City Commission voted to terminate City Manager Stanton following her announcement of her decision to undergo sex reassignment surgery. In a CNN interview, Gerard explained her position of support for Stanton saying, "We're making a decision here about whether we're going to be an inclusive and compassionate community or are we going to be small-minded and bigoted."

In October 2013, Gerard announced she was running for the Pinellas County Commission District 2 seat. She defeated Ed Hooper, who had defeated incumbent Norm Roche in the Republican Primary, 51% to 49%. In 2018, she won re-election unopposed. In 2022, she was defeated for re-election by Republican Brian Scott, 54.3% to 46.6%.

Personal life

. Gerard was born in Paterson, New Jersey. She is married and has one child, writer Sarah Gerard.

References

  1. "Office of Mayor". City of Largo, Florida.
  2. Helfand, Lori. "Largo races culminate in vote Tuesday" St. Petersburg Times. March 5, 2006. Online.
  3. Helfland, Lori. "Largo officials vote to dismiss Stanton." St. Petersburg Times. February 28, 2007.
  4. Interview of Stanton and Gerard." CNN.com - Transcripts. Aired March 8, 2007. Online. April 17, 2008.
  5. "Largo Mayor Pat Gerard running for Norm Roche's Pinellas Commission seat".
  6. PORTER, SUZETTE (2014-11-03). "Gerard, Eggers win commission seats". TBNweekly. Retrieved 2023-06-02.
  7. https://wusfnews.wusf.usf.edu/people/wusf-staff (2022-11-09). "2022 election: How Tampa Bay voted in key races that represent the area". WUSF Public Media. Retrieved 2023-06-02. {{cite web}}: External link in |last= (help)


Flag of FloridaPolitician icon

This article about a mayor in Florida is a stub. You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it.

Categories: