Patricia Gerard

She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and a Master of Arts in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of South Florida. Gerard was a mental health worker in a community-based rehabilitation program after graduating from USF. From 1984 to 1986 she worked as Victim's Advocate for the Largo Police Department. From 1986 to 1992 she worked as director of the Spouse Abuse Shelter of Religious Community Services, where she stayed until 1992. After that, she worked for Family Resources, Inc. as Executive Director of Helpline. She is currently their COO.

She has served on numerous boards, including Suncoast Tiger Bay Board, the Business and Professional Women of St. Petersburg, Leadership Pinellas, Pinellas County Homeless Leadership Board, the United Way Council, Pinellas County Victim Rights Coalition, Pinellas County Domestic Violence Task Force, Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Governor's Coordinating Council on Victim's Rights, and the Florida Alliance of Information and Referral Services Board.

She was elected to the City Commission in 2000 and again in 2003.{{cite web |title=Office of Mayor |url=http://www.largo.com/egov/apps/directory/list.egov?path=pro&usr=18

|publisher=City of Largo, Florida}} She became mayor by defeating her predecessor, Robert E. Jackson, in 2006 in a bitterly contested race.[http://www.sptimes.com/2006/03/05/Northpinellas/Largo_races_culminate.shtml Helfand, Lori. "Largo races culminate in vote Tuesday"] St. Petersburg Times. March 5, 2006. Online.

Gerard and Commissioner Rodney Woods were the two dissenting votes when the Largo City Commission voted to terminate City Manager Stanton following her announcement of her decision to undergo sex reassignment surgery.[http://www.sptimes.com/2007/02/28/Tampabay/Largo_officials_vote_.shtml Helfland, Lori. "Largo officials vote to dismiss Stanton."] St. Petersburg Times. February 28, 2007. In a CNN interview, Gerard explained her position of support for Stanton saying, "We're making a decision here about whether we're going to be an inclusive and compassionate community or are we going to be small-minded and bigoted."[http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0703/08/cnr.06.html Interview of Stanton and Gerard." CNN.com - Transcripts. Aired March 8, 2007. Online. April 17, 2008.]

In October 2013, Gerard announced{{Cite web|url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/local/largo-mayor-pat-gerard-running-for-norm-roches-pinellas-commission-seat/2148355/|title=Largo Mayor Pat Gerard running for Norm Roche's Pinellas Commission seat}} she was running for the Pinellas County Commission District 2 seat. She defeated Ed Hooper, who had defeated incumbent Norm Roche in the Republican Primary, 51% to 49%.{{Cite web |last=PORTER |first=SUZETTE |date=November 3, 2014 |title=Gerard, Eggers win commission seats |url=https://www.tbnweekly.com/pinellas_county/article_f7ca34b1-fb85-59ec-96d7-d4a0b3d4b14c.html |access-date=June 2, 2023 |website=TBNweekly |language=en}} In 2018, she won re-election unopposed. In 2022, she was defeated for re-election by Republican Brian Scott, 54.3% to 46.6%.{{Cite web |title=2022 election: How Tampa Bay voted in key races that represent the area |url=https://wusfnews.wusf.usf.edu/politics-issues/2022-11-09/2022-election-how-tampa-bay-voted-state-senate-house-races |access-date=June 2, 2023 |website=WUSF Public Media |language=en}}

. Gerard was born in Paterson, New Jersey. She is married and has one child, writer Sarah Gerard.

{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gerard, Patricia}}

Category:Women mayors of places in Florida

Category:Living people

Category:People from Largo, Florida

Category:Politicians from Paterson, New Jersey

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:Mayors of places in Florida

Category:21st-century American women

Category:University of South Florida alumni

{{Florida-mayor-stub}}