UF experts available to talk about presidential election, voting in Florida

October 31, 2008

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Several University of Florida experts are available to discuss the upcoming presidential election.

Richard S. Conley is an associate professor of political science. He is a scholar of the American presidency and researches presidential-congressional relations. He can be reached at 352-473-4099 or at 352-317-1860 after 5 p.m. Nov. 4 and all day on Nov. 5. He can be e-mailed at rconley@polisci.ufl.edu.

Michael T. Heaney is an assistant professor of political science who is an expert in interest groups and political parties. Before joining the UF faculty, he was a postdoctoral fellow at Yale University’s Institution for Social and Policy Studies.

Michael D. Martinez is an associate professor of political science. He studies voter participation and why people vote the way they do. He is an expert on how voter turnout affects election results. He can be reached at 352-273-2363 but will not be available the week after Election Day. His e-mail is martinez@polisci.ufl.edu.

Daniel A. Smith is an associate professor of political science and an expert on ballot initiatives and on campaigns and elections in Florida. He can be reached at 352-273-2346 or 352-283-6482 or by e-mail at dasmith@polisci.ufl.edu.

Kenneth D. Wald is a distinguished professor of political science. He is an expert on the politics of Jewish voters and on how religion influences politics. He can be reached at 352-273-2391 but will not be available the week after Election Day. His e-mail is kenwald@polisci.ufl.edu.

Lynda Lee Kaid is a professor of telecommunications who has taught political communication, political advertising and media coverage of political events. She can be reached at 352-871-1449 or at 352-392-7922. She can be e-mailed at lkaid@jou.ufl.edu.

Jon Mills is a Levin College of Law professor and a former speaker of the Florida House of Representatives. He is an expert on federal and state law influencing the U.S. Supreme Court decision to end Florida’s ballot recount in 2000. He can also speak on how the legacy of the 2000 presidential election relates to this year’s race. He can be reached at 352-273-0835 or by e-mail at mills@law.ufl.edu.

Clifford A. Jones is a Levin College of Law associate in law and lecturer. He is an expert in how Florida’s election law changed after the 2000 presidential election and how the law provides for statewide consistency in voter machines. He also studies campaign finance law and how voting machine technologies influence vote counts. He can be reached at 352-273-0835 or by e-mail at jonesca@law.ufl.edu.

David Colburn is UF provost emeritus, professor emeritus of history and director of the Reubin Askew Institute on Politics and Society. He is a historian and author who has just published, “From Yellow Dog Democrats to Red State Republicans” about political trends in Florida and the Sunshine State’s role in national politics. He can be reached at 352-258-6632 Nov. 3 through Nov. 7. He can be e-mailed at colburn@ufl.edu.