Learning a new job is something Mike Hogan has grown accustomed to

Government

A lifetime learner.

That would be a good way to describe Mike Hogan, Duval County’s new supervisor of elections.

Hogan, 66, has a diverse resume, documenting 38 jobs since he was 12 years old. (See full list below.)

The list begins with mowing lawns, selling greeting cards door-to-door and a newspaper route.

Along the way to supervisor of elections, there’s construction labor; selling shoes, siding and automobiles; and tending bar before Hogan joined one of Jacksonville’s largest companies 15 years before his career in government began.

“I like learning new things,” he said.

After graduating from college with a degree in zoology, Hogan taught science at a private school in West Jacksonville for a year before his first stint in government service as a health inspector.

He entered the corporate arena in 1975 when he began a 22-year career with BellSouth. Originally hired for the sales department, over the years Hogan evolved in the company, working later in the labor relations, risk management, safety and real estate departments.

A direct descendant of some of the founders of Jacksonville, Hogan decided after he hit 40 years old it was time to take a shot at serving his hometown by seeking public office.

He ran a successful campaign for City Council in 1991 and was re-elected four years later. When the two-term limit ended his stint on the council, Hogan ran another successful campaign for the District 13 seat in the state House of Representatives, where he represented Duval and a portion of Clay County until 2003, when he came home after being elected Duval County Tax Collector.

Before Hogan finished his second term as tax collector, he served on the Statewide Constitutional Commission and the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission.

Following an unsuccessful run for mayor in 2011, Hogan went back to Tallahassee when he was appointed by Gov. Rick Scott as chairman of the Public Employees Relations Commission.

His last day in Tallahassee was June 30, the day before he began his job as supervisor of elections. Hogan was elected to his new job in March.

While still unpacking last week in his new office Downtown, Hogan looked back on his career while looking forward to the latest challenge.

“I’ve been doing new things all my life. I’m used to it,” he said.

Hogan doesn’t anticipate making significant administrative changes in the office. What he does plan to change while he’s supervisor involves how many people participate in the process either through early voting, voting by mail or casting their ballot on election days.

He’s targeting a group that historically has not been well represented at the polls. It’s a segment of voters that could be described as apathetic and mistrustful of government.

“I want to get the young age group more involved,” said Hogan.

That will likely involve promoting online voter registration, which was approved this year by the Legislature.

“I think that will appeal to young people,” he said.

Skills gained in 1972 will help Hogan with the educational part of his plan.

“I want to impress upon people the history of our nation and how a single vote can count,” he said. “There’s still a lot of apathy and cynicism even though it’s easier now than ever to vote.”

Hogan and his staff of 35 full-time election workers are getting ready for a four-precinct election in August in Atlantic Beach. Then they’ll begin the ramp-up for the national primary and general election in 2016.

Hogan will call on his diverse professional and public service background when it comes to working with the team.

“Once you figure out where the trail is, you just have to stay on the path,” he said.

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Mike Hogan’s jobs: 1960-2015

1. Mowing lawns

2. Selling all-occasion cards door-to-door

3. Newspaper route

4. A&P Grocery: Bag boy, produce clerk, cashier and

assistant manager

5. Kmart Grocery

6. Mercury Motor Express

7. Walgreen’s