For NACo Second Vice President:

Carol Roberts (original) (raw)

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Results. It's her reputation for making things happen that has propelled Carol A. Roberts through a dozen successful elections. As a community leader, City of West Palm Beach Mayor, Palm Beach County Board of Commission Chair and current President of the Florida Association of Counties, Carol Roberts has always rallied her constituents and pertinent political forces to champion the pioneering issues that count. Her vision and personal strength have inspired confidence at the local, regional, state and national level in leadership positions spanning 22 years of public service. She's testified before Congress many times, garnering the support from House and Senate members needed to fund local public transportation initiatives. In 1995, Roberts was presented with a Distinguished Service Award by NACo recognizing her role as Vice Chair of the Task Force which successfully promoted the passage of the Unfunded Mandate Reform Act. That's results.

In Palm Beach County, Florida, Carol Roberts has been a vital governing factor during a pivotal decade tackling frontline issues that are paralleled today at the national level: managing growth, health care, clean air and public transportation. The Roberts approach to problem solving is direct and simple. "I believe in enabling communities to design their own solutions and then forging the public-private partnerships that will implement those solutions," says Roberts. "When people have ownership in resolving an issue, the outcome will be successful." Carol Roberts has been on every rung of the ladder when it comes to organizing and effecting political change. Since childhood, she has stood up against policies she thought unfair. Through the years, she has not neglected her original supporters nor forgotten her roots. People trust Carol's integrity and respond to her compelling dignity and character of substance. It's a key ingredient to her results-producing formula.

Vision. Palm Beach County's Children's Services Council, the Health Care District, and Tri-County Rail Service are just three examples of Carol Roberts' legislative vision. She was instrumental in the establishment of all three South Florida agencies; each of which serve as national models recognized for their progressive standing. Palm Beach County's Health Care District in particular has earned mention from Hillary Rodham Clinton as innovative and bold; one-of-a-kind in the country.

Carol Roberts' political career began in 1975 with her first successful bid for elected office as a commissioner for the City of West Palm Beach. She was re-elected for three more terms, serving as vice-mayor and as mayor. During those years she was tapped so many times by Florida's former Governor Bob Graham to serve on state task forces, advisory boards and committees, that she was eventually selected by Graham for admission to "Florida's Hall of Fame." She also served prominently with the Florida League of Cities. In 1986 she was elected to the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners, a position she maintains to the present having also served twice as the Board's Chair. Again Florida Governor Lawton Chiles has taken advantage of Roberts' political acumen to appoint her to several posts including Florida's Legislative Committee on Intergovernmental Relations, the Everglades Summit Committee, Health Care Responsibility Act Committee, Property Rights Study Commission II and the Transition Task Force on Transportation. Carol Roberts also is honored to be the current President of Florida's Association of Counties (FAC) after chairing many of FAC's policy making committees.

Nationally, her vision has been sought and appreciated as one of NACo's Board of Directors, as Vice Chair and Chair of NACo's Large Urban County Caucus, Chair of the Transportation and Telecommunications Steering Committee and the Mass Transit-Railroad Subcommittee. She will be a featured speaker at the upcoming NACo Regional Issues and Answers Seminar in St. Louis addressing the ISTEA reauthorization.

Regionally, Roberts was a delegate to the 1996 Focus Conference of Local Governments, she serves as a member of the Metropolitan Planning Organization, was a presenter at the South Florida Transportation Summit and is currently Chair of South Florida's Tri-County Commuter Rail Authority. In the past, her leadership has been important to other governmental agencies such as the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council, Palm Beach County's Solid Waste Authority, Tourist Development Council, Sports Commission, the Health and Human Services Planning Association of Palm Beach County, the Deaf Service Center, the Public Safety Coordinating Council of Palm Beach County's Criminal Justice Commission and as Chair of both the Artificial Reef Committee and Water Resources Management Advisory Committee.

In all these areas as well as the arts, education and economic development, Carol Roberts has infused her valuable foresight to build a foundation for the future.

Strength. How can one person have accomplished so much and still have so much yet to give? Ask Carol Roberts' six children! It takes strength and personal fortitude to raise such a large household. Her children, five boys and one girl, are all grown and have added six grandchildren to her measure of pride. Married to Dr. Hyman J. Roberts, Carol is a native of Florida and has been a resident of West Palm Beach since 1955. She attended the University of Miami, Tufts University and Palm Beach Atlantic College. It is a very large plate of life from which Carol Roberts derives her energy and joy. Her professional work reflects a special depth acquired from her commitment to family and understanding of human needs. This is the source of her drive to serve the public. It is a special strength which fights for the right causes and sees no obstacle as unmovable. The people of Palm Beach County and the state of Florida will attest to its worth. Says Ann Leibovit, a long-time follower, "Carol has stood for what she believes. I don't consider her a politician. I consider her a woman doing her best for her community, her county and her country."

Compassion. Carol Roberts has been a life-long advocate for helping those in need. For two years (1986-88) she was National President of ACTS, a private foundation assisting communities to Self Help. She served as ACTS' representative for famine relief in East Africa. Along with her husband, Hyman, the Roberts have been benefactors to several universities, museums, art galleries and charities. She has volunteered her time on the board of directors for numerous non-profit, educational and civil rights organizations.

A Champion. She's known as the "voice of county government." Although she did host a radio program for several years, it's not her mellow tones alone that capture one's attention. She carries with her the authority of experience and a well-honed sword of political skill. Carol Roberts' presence is recognized and respected where it matters - on Capitol Hill. Her ideas are fresh, her vision accurate, her connection to people is true. This is a lady with class and backbone. Carol A. Roberts. The one with results.

Carol Roberts At A Glance

City of West Palm Beach, FL

Board of County Commissioners, Palm Beach County, FL

Florida Association of Counties

National Association of Counties

State of Florida Appointments

Regional Appointments

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