Thank you to all who supported or took an interest in my Campaign for Mayor of Melbourne, FL. I am sorry to report, but the election is over and I lost (as did two others running for the same office of Mayor). The website will be closing at the end of next month. I appreciate your support and offers, but we certainly cannot now accept money, donations or volunteers. Please stay interested in local politics and follow the news.
Signed: Molly Tasker, Former Candidate for Mayor of Melbourne, FL
Signed: Molly Tasker, Former Candidate for Mayor of Melbourne, FL
Dated: 18 December 2020
Meet Molly J. Tasker
Lionel Cote, Chief of Police (Ret.) Satellite Beach:
"I support and endorse Molly Tasker for Mayor of Melbourne. She is well thought of by every one and especially appreciated for her public service."
Work History:
- City of Melbourne, FL (Pop. appx. 85,000). Elected official (non-partisan) City Council member, 2 four-year terms (Nov. 2008 - Nov. 2016). Member, Board of Directors, Orlando-Melbourne International Airport Authority (Nov. 2008 - Nov. 2016). Melbourne Vice Mayor (Nov. 2012 - Nov. 2013).
- U.S. Intelligence Community. National Security Consultant 1999 - present. Clearance held TS.
- Tasker & Stephens, P.A. Attorneys at law, from approximately 1997 - 2007. After retirement from the CIA, I and a cousin formed up a small, part-time law firm addressing primarily land use issues. Note: The firm was dissolved when my cousin decided not to move back to Florida from Pennsylvania and I became more occupied with my consulting work.
- Central Intelligence Agency, Washington, D. C. (1974 - 1995). Chair, Publications Review Board, 1993 - 1995. Assistant General Counsel, 1980 - 1995. Operations Officer, 1974 - 1979 and 1985 - 1989.
Volunteer Work:
- Babcock Street Community Redevelopment Agency Advisory Committee (2019 - present).
- Association of Former Intelligence Officers Executive Officer (2018 - present).
- League of Women Voters (1997 - present) (Temporarily inactive during campaign).
- VFW Post 4643 Ladies' Auxiliary (1990 - present).
- Florida State University College of Law Alumni Association Board of Directors (2015 - 2019).
- City of Melbourne Building and Construction Advisory Committee (2007).
- Board of Directors of Community Housing Initiative (ca. 2005).
- Chair of Chamber of Commerce Government Action Committee (1998).
Experience and Skills
- Attorney, Manager, Problem Solver. I am an attorney, a former Melbourne City Council member and Vice-Mayor, and a consultant to the federal government on national security issues. Highlights of my employment as a consultant and staff employee of the CIA are as follows:
- Since November 1995, I have been working intermittently as an independent contractor on classification and other issues with the Intelligence Community.
- In 2008, I spent six months with the Director of the CIA’s Office of Policy and Corporate Coordination working on reorganization within the entire of the U.S. intelligence community.
- In 2006-7, I was a consultant for six months in the CIA/National Clandestine Service/Office of Policy Coordination.
- In 2005, I was in Baghdad working on Saddam Hussein war crimes issues with the Department of State, the Defense Intelligence Agency, the Justice Department/Regime Crimes Liaison Office, and the FBI.
- Right after the events of September 11, 2001, from October 2001 - January 2002, I served in Islamabad, Pakistan and in Afghanistan working 9/11 counter-terrorism operations with the FBI and State Department.
- During the war in the Balkans I served the Director/CIA as acting representative to NATO Headquarters in Kosovo, de-conflicting operations and coordinating information sharing with all NATO military and civilian participants in country. Earlier, I served operationally in the Bosnia theatre.
- When employed as staff, I enjoyed 25 years with the Central Intelligence Agency, confronting and solving complex legal and operational issues -- at times making instantaneous decisions under extreme conditions.
- As an attorney, I worked high profile criminal and civil cases including participation in Iran-Contra litigations and the UN War Crimes Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia. When I retired as a staff employee, I was Chair of the CIA’s Publications Review Board (see Robert Gates' acknowledgment in his book, “From the Shadows”).
- As a CIA operations officer, my primary focus was counter-terrorism. I had two full (2-3 years) overseas tours, one in Europe and one in the Middle East.
Honors:
- Pro Bono Volunteer Special Recognition Award in 1997 and 1999 from Brevard County Legal Aid.
- Senior Member - Florida State University Law Review.
- NATO and US Medals for Kosovo Peacekeeping (2001).
- Career Intelligence Medal awarded by the Central Intelligence Agency for a cumulative record of service which reflects exceptional achievement (1995).
- Performance Awards for work with U.S. Department of State on the former Yugoslavia War Crimes Tribunal and again as attorney for the Counter Intelligence Center for work with the FBI.
- Fulbright Travel Grant Recipient - FSU Center for Slavic and East European Studies in Belgrade, Yugoslavia.
Education:
- Cocoa High School (Cocoa, FL), High School Diploma
- Santa Fe Junior College (Gainesville, FL), Associate of Arts
- Florida Atlantic University (Boca Raton, FL), Bachelor of Arts, Political Science
- Florida State University (Tallahassee, FL), Juris Doctor