What’s wrong with(in) Broward County?
Excerpt: While Brenda Snipes says she will challenge Gov. Rick Scott’s decision to replace her as Broward’s elections supervisor, county commissioners may take a look to see if the governor handled the issue appropriately.
Commissioner Steve Geller is asking commissioners Tuesday to have the county attorney’s office “take any legal action necessary to ensure that the appointment process complies with applicable law.”
Geller said he’s not sure Scott had the authority to do what he did. He questioned Scott’s motivation in appointing Peter Antonacci — whom he described as “an extremely competent person” — concerned about news reports that describe Antonacci as Scott’s “hatchet man” and “go-to guy.”
Geller said supervisors of elections have great ability to boost or minimize voter turnout through policies they put in place, such as early-voting hours and locations and where polling places are located. That could impact the outcomes in heavily Democratic Broward County, he said. Antonacci is a Republican and not a county resident.
Bottom Line: I guess if you were wondering if public officials in Broward actually care about what’s right, more than their political party, you sadly might have your answer. If my expectations weren’t already so low, I’d be speechless. While Geller says he doesn’t know if Governor Scott had the right to do what he did – that's a personal issue based on low information. To help him, and Broward, here’s Article IV Section 7 of Florida’s Constitution.
Text of Section 7:
Suspensions; Filling Office During Suspensions
(a) By executive order stating the grounds and filed with the custodian of state records, the governor may suspend from office any state officer not subject to impeachment, any officer of the militia not in the active service of the United States, or any county officer, for malfeasance, misfeasance, neglect of duty, drunkenness, incompetence, permanent inability to perform official duties, or commission of a felony, and may fill the office by appointment for the period of suspension. The suspended officer may at any time before removal be reinstated by the governor.
(b) The senate may, in proceedings prescribed by law, remove from office or reinstate the suspended official and for such purpose the senate may be convened in special session by its president or by a majority of its membership.
(c) By order of the governor any elected municipal officer indicted for crime may be suspended from office until acquitted and the office filled by appointment for the period of suspension, not to extend beyond the term, unless these powers are vested elsewhere by law or the municipal charter.
Look at that... Investigation complete! And unlike the Broward Commission it didn’t require a single taxpayer dollar. You’re welcome. And Broward – you have some serious soul searching to do with your elected officials. Disconcerting doesn’t even scratch the surface.