DeSantis Day 1: Is Israel out and what or who’s next?
Excerpt: It appears that Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel is preparing to pack up his office.
The two-term sheriff, the object of fierce criticism over BSO’s handling of the Parkland massacre, told his top commanders that he will be removed from office by Gov. Ron DeSantis, sources have told the Miami Herald.
DeSantis, who was sworn in Tuesday morning, had not made a formal announcement of a possible suspension.
Bottom Line: Aside from the New Times and Herald Reports I also had two sources tell me that this was happening yesterday. Without confirmation from the incoming administration I choose not to run with it, but it appears as though the writing is on the wall pretty much everywhere at this point. Ron DeSantis has made clear his intentions of not wasting time to act decisively on numerous issues that’ve been outstanding and that he’s inheriting. This evidently being the first. Ron DeSantis made clear during the campaign that based on what was known of the failures at BSO, Sheriff Israel should be removed from office. Once Governor-Elect, the only hedge he offered up on that position was that he wanted to read the final Stoneman Douglas Commision Report before making the decision. Well, it’s safe to say that there certainly wasn’t any saving grace for BSO or Israel in that report. So, accountability begins. But here’s the question. Is this just the first?
Starting with the morning after Election Day last November I began to chronicle the illegal activity and voter fraud playing out in both Broward and Palm Beach Counties. By the time it was all said and done there were a minimum of six violations of Florida election law by Broward Supervisor of Elections Brenda Snipes, with three rising to the level of voter fraud. But the situation wasn’t much better in Palm Beach County. In PBC there were a minimum of five violations of law with two rising to the level of voter fraud. So yes, the situation was worse in Broward, and without a doubt Brenda Snipes had to go but what about Palm Beach County? How can broken laws and voter fraud be ignored just because it wasn’t as extensive in Broward? While I’ve been consistent on this topic right along – seemingly the rest of the South Florida news media was content with letting this slide. But what about our new Governor? Interestingly when he’s spoken of the topic of elections in Florida over the past week, even when asked just about Broward, he’s mentioned Palm Beach County in the same breath. During his Inauguration speech he had this mention which wasn’t lost on me:
We also cannot allow Florida’s reputation to be further tarnished by the repeated failure of a small number of counties to conduct elections in a transparent, lawful manner. A generation of botched elections is enough.
He didn’t say county. He said counties. So, could we be on the brink of real accountability in Palm Beach County as well? I don’t have any sources other than the rule of law to know that Susan Bucher should never preside over an election again. Here’s to hoping that’s the case and if it is...It’s a new day in Florida because where Rick Scott appeared to hedge and play politics with these decisions – our former JAG officer doesn’t appear to be playing political games.