While much of the world knows Katherine Harris as a politician at the center of the Florida recount turmoil in 2000, The Sarasota leader today devotes her energies to facilitating a different kind of race. As chair for the Modern Pentathlon World Cup, she recently helped attract visitors from around the globe to an Olympic qualifying event at Nathan Benderson Park. So what carries Harris forward in life?

Dr. Francis Schaeffer

I wrote a book called Center of the Storm about a number of figures whose principles and ideas influenced me during the recount. One of the most pervasive influences was Dr. Francis Schaeffer. He was an author and a theologian who I had the opportunity to learn from at L’Abri in Switzerland. He dramatically influenced me as far as really taking a worldview.

Gardening

My mother was an avid gardener. I surprise myself by the nomenclature I may espouse that is nothing more than her words in my mind. The flower gardens, potager, parterres, vegetable raised beds and rose garden are a constant source of grounding for me. I enjoy an early cup of coffee under the Jacaranda tree that is filled with chimes and prisms from friends as a tribute to my late husband, Anders Ebbeson. Afterward, I meander along the path passing the olive trees, date palms, lavender, gardenias and night blooming jasmine en route to deadhead the rose bushes and trellises. In “P” season, the peaches, pecans, pineapples, plums, pomegranates, pears, papayas, persimmons and Pomelos all give their fruit at the same time. Finally, I pick up the fallen coconuts and dozens of mangos. 

Spain

I spent my junior year in Spain and loved it. I even dreamed in Spanish. It was a very important time that helped me understand how America would be received internationally. That sparked my interest in international relations, which is what I focused on when I did my graduate work at Harvard.

Chejoie

My husband was a Francophile. We were married in Paris, and he gave me extraordinary appreciation of French culture and how important France was in the development of America. When we built our home, we hired an architect that understood French Classical 18th-century architecture, and built it with architectural effects from France. We loved the atmosphere created, and it made this a safe and joyful refuge for family and friends.

The Olympic Spirit

One of things Anders always hoped to do was to bring an Olympic World Cup to the Sarasota area, primarily because of the extraordinary exposure to the world it would bring, but also for children as the Olympics just gives this opportunity to see all these countries competing peacefully. The Olympics had a tremendous impact on me back to the third grade. The sport of modern pentathlon is one I was passionate about all my life, and this year we hosted the Modern Pentathlon World Cup 100 days out from the Olympics. To see everyone cheer for the young people and to see what that means to the athletes was special. We also had a significant education component where Olympians went to talk to schoolchildren.

Black Oval

Professionally, I’ve become involved with a venture capital group with its entire focus on sustainability. It’s become a major topic with fisheries. Florida has an opportunity to have aquaculture be one of its most important industries. One of the initiatives under our control is at the Mote Marine Culture Park, where we have sturgeon caviar named Black Oval that is winning taste tests across the country. It’s extraordinary and it’s produced here in Sarasota.

Patrick Smith

One of my favorite books is A Land Remembered, by Patrick Smith, and when I was secretary of state, he was honored as a Great Floridian. A Land Remembered is the history of our state told in a fictional way—the names were changed to protect the guilty. He gives you a real sense of Florida’s unique history. For example, people will call someone a Florida cracker and other people may have thought that was derogatory, but it’s about how a whip was the primary defense and early tool of the cowboys here.

Pride and Prejudice

I read Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen every year. It changes the way I think every time I read it. Something about that book helps me to refocus. Just her choice of words and the diction, I just love the way it is written. It’s my reset every year.

Daily Bible

I have a Bible split into daily readings, and every day it has some Old Testament and some New Testament, and it includes a bit of Psalms and Proverbs. What happens is I write in the margins, about how that passage was relevant to my day. I have had it since I was in high school. It helps me remember the lessons learned, and is useful so I don’t make the same mistakes again.

Performing Arts

I am desperately trying to get tickets to Josephine. I love the arts, and in Sarasota, we have so much at our fingertips. Years ago I was appointed to the board of The Ringling by Gov. Lawton Chiles, and that was when the Asolo was operated by the State of Florida. We are blessed with so many facilities here, and I couldn't single out a favorite.