In a special afternoon meeting on Thursday, Aug. 30, the Cutler Bay Town Council unanimously appointed Debra E. Eastman to the position of town clerk. She will begin that job at the end of September upon successfully completing the town’s pre-employment requirements.
“It is an honor to be chosen to serve in such a prestigious position,” Eastman said during an interview the week following her appointment.
Eastman was awarded the national accreditation of Master Municipal Clerk from the International Institute of Municipal Clerks in 2004. She previously held the designation of Certified Municipal Clerk.
“During my career, I served as an elected town clerk and tax collector in Gilford, NH, for 23 years before coming to Florida in 2005 to serve as the town clerk of Miami Lakes,” Eastman said. “In 2009, I joined the Town of Surfside as town clerk and was later charged with supervision of the Utility Department and the IT Department and was in charge of procurement. My title was changed to town clerk and director of Administrative Services.”
Eastman previously worked as the village clerk of the Village of Islamorada, a position she began in August 2011. She currently is a member of the Monroe County Clerks’Association and has served as secretary and member of the Miami- Dade City Clerks’ Association.
“I served as Region 1 director for the International Institute of Municipal Clerks, president of the New Hampshire Tax Collectors’ Association and am an honorary member of the New Hampshire City and Town Clerks’ Association,” she said. “I am also past president of the New England Association of City and Town Clerks. One of my greatest accomplishments is serving with the Organization for Cooperation in Europe as a polling supervisor for the first free election in Bosnia-Herzegovina.”
Eastman is married and currently lives in Key Largo but will be relocating to the South Dade area soon. Her son, daughterin- law and three granddaughters live in New Hampshire.
“I look forward to serving the citizens of the Town of Cutler Bay and working closely with their elected and appointed officials,” Eastman said. “I would like the citizens of Cutler Bay to know that my door will always be open and I will do everything possible to assist them.”
