Harris Bio: The Woman Running the Recount
Nov. 15 -- Republican George W. Bush has a staunch ally in the woman overseeing the Florida recount, Secretary of State Katherine Harris.
Harris, who has been staunchly against hand recounts of votes in South Florida, has been an active supporter of the Texas governor’s bid for the presidency.
Along with several others, the 43-year-old Republican served as co-chair of the Bush campaign in Florida, and was a delegate to the Republican National Convention in Philadelphia last July.
In January 2000, she went with Bush’s brother, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, and others to campaign door-to-door for Bush in the New Hampshire primary.
Harris’ office said she fully expected her decision to enforce the recount deadline would subject her to allegations of partisanship, but insisted the only matter at issue is the law.
“The electoral process is a balance between the desire of eachindividual voter to have his or her intended vote recorded and theright of the public to a clear, final result within a reasonabletime,” Harris said today.
On the Political Fast TrackHarris was elected secretary of state in 1998, following four years representing Sarasota in the Florida Senate, where she was chairwoman of the Commerce and Economic Development Committee. Harris holds a master’s degree in public policy from Harvard University, but she had virtually no political experience prior to running for the state Senate.
Politics may be in her blood, however. Harris comes from one of Florida’s most prominent and wealthy families, with close ties to the Republican party. She had been seen as a potential candidate for this year’s U.S. Senate this year, in which Democrat Bill Nelson eventually defeated Republican Rep. Bill McCollum.
Harris will be Florida’s last secretary of state. The position will be eliminated in 2002 under Constitution Revision No. 8. Democrats have suggested that Harris may seek an ambassadorship or other appointment in a Bush administration.
Controversy of Her Own
Popular Reads
ABC News Live