News / Articles

RECAP: Annual Meeting/Hot Topics

Staff | Published on 4/15/2025

RECAP of Annual Meeting/Hot Topics

We transacted business as required in our bylaws, celebrating the accomplishments of our League and had a special presentation from longtime Leaguer and newly elected Supervisor of Elections, Karen Castor Dentel.

LWVOC Annual Meeting
Learn about our new Board of Directors

Dr. Karen Castor Dentel was elected Orange County Supervisor of Elections on November 5, 2024. A lifelong Floridian and dedicated public servant, she has spent over 25 years serving Orange County as a public school teacher, state legislator, and school board member. She represented her community in the Florida House of Representatives (2012-2014) and on the Orange County School Board (2018-2024).

Born into a family deeply committed to public service, Karen followed in the footsteps of her parents—her mother, a former Commissioner of Education , and her father, a County Court Judge. Her siblings also serve as County Court Judge and U.S. Representative. (shown right: Dr. Karen Castor Dentel shown with her mother, Betty Castor, at an LWVOC Hot Topics)

“Community service is part of my DNA,” Supervisor Castor Dentel said. “I’m ready to get to work running safe and secure elections, increasing voter participation, and maintaining a nationally recognized elections office.”

In addition to her elected roles, Karen has volunteered with organizations like Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, the Junior League, and the League of Women Voters. She holds degrees from Vanderbilt University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and the University of Florida.

Karen’s two children attended Orange County public schools, reflecting her lifelong dedication to public education and her community.

*Bio taken from the "About Us" section of ocfelections.gov

TAKE ACTION
--Visit Orange County Elections site to
check your voter status
--Don't forget to request a VBM, vote-by-mail ballot
--Encourage your family and friend circle to do the same
--Visit vote411.org for a non-partisan voter/election info site sponsored by LWV

RECAP of event
By Judi Hayes

On April 9, 2025, the League took a break from Hot Topics to host a lunchtime annual business meeting, featuring keynote remarks from longtime League member and newly elected Orange County Supervisor of Elections, Dr. Karen Castor Dentel. She gave a recap of her very productive first 100 days in office,
including the swift recovery of nearly $3.3 million in funds that had been expended by her immediate predecessor.

Castor Dentel discussed the importance of the Adopt-a-Precinct program, through which the League adopted 23 precincts in the last election, more than any other civic organization. She also discussed some of the current state legislation affecting her office and, in turn, all of us — including funding and citizen ballot initiatives.

Vote 411 and People Powered Fair Maps are two of the League initiatives that improve access to the courts. The supervisor’s office will be visiting high schools to register new voters, and Castor Dentel encouraged anyone who works with students to remind them to add voter registration to their graduation activities. Betty Saulpaugh is the point of contact if you are interested in helping.

We have a special election coming up to replace our beloved and recently departed League member state Sen. Geraldine Thompson. The primary is June 24. Did you know that Senator Thompson was responsible for changing the term “absentee ballot” to “vote by mail”? And speaking of which, you may know that all vote-by-mail ballot requests expired last year, and you can renew your request in person
or on the supervisor’s website. New satellite locations are coming soon in Ocoee and Lake Nona.

We all wish Supervisor Castor Dentel well in her endeavor, and look forward to working with her to get voters engaged and voting!

Return to Previous Page