As an elected official, community leader and public-school teacher, Karen Castor Dentel has served the residents of Orange County for more than 25 years. Karen was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2012 and has served on the Orange County School Board since 2018.
A lifelong Floridian, Karen was taught the value of community service at a young age. Her mother served as the statewide Commissioner of Education while her father served locally as a County Court Judge. Like their parents, Karen’s brother and sister also serve as a County Court Judge and U.S. Representative, respectively.
“Community service is part of my DNA. As a public-school teacher, volunteer, legislator and school board member, I’ve fought to make a difference in people’s lives,” Castor Dentel said. “Now I’m ready to get to work as your Supervisor of Elections.”
In addition to serving in an elected capacity, Karen has volunteered for many years with several local organizations, including Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, which raises lifesaving funds to support breast cancer patients; Junior League, a nonprofit organization that promotes volunteerism; the Orange County History Center; and the League of Women Voters.
As an elected official, Karen advocated to expand voting access, support public education, and invest in local jobs and infrastructure. In the Florida Legislature, she served on the Economic Development and Tourism, Business and Professional Regulation, K-12 Education, and Education Appropriations subcommittees.
As Supervisor of Elections, Karen will work to increase voter participation, protect vote-by-mail and early voting, and efficiently run the nationally recognized elections office.
Karen has degrees from Vanderbilt University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and the University of Florida. Her two children attended Orange County public schools.
