https://www.wpbf.com/article/desantis-s ... r/25952891
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. —
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday issued an executive order suspending Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Susan Bucher, effective immediately. The order follows the recommendation of Secretary of State Michael Ertel to remove Bucher from office.
The governor also issued an executive order officially acknowledging the resignation of Dr. Brenda Snipes as Broward County supervisor of elections, effective Jan. 4, formally terminating her duties.
DeSantis announced the appointments of two new supervisor of elections in South Florida. He appointed Wendy Sartory Link, a West Palm Beach attorney, to replace Bucher and Afghanistan War veteran Chris Anderson as Seminole County supervisor of elections.
The governor said Link won't seek election in 2020.
“Today, we turn our attention to the need to restore faith in our elections processes here in Florida,†DeSantis said on the steps of the Historical Society of Palm Beach County, the old courthouse. “During the 2018 general election, Florida had 65 out of 67 counties that ran good elections.
"Supervisor Bucher demonstrated she was unable to comply with the laws of our state and her duties as the supervisor of elections and failed to accurately report information related to the number of ballots that had been cast. For these reasons, I am suspending Susan Bucher as Palm Beach County supervisor of elections, effective immediately. It is time to turn the page in Palm Beach County to ensure accountability and transparency from our elections officials.â€
Bucher had said she inherited outdated equipment that malfunctioned during the recount process, causing her office to miss the deadline.
Florida Democratic Party Chair Terrie Rizzo said in a statement after DeSantis' order: "In the United States, our elections are sacred and our elections supervisors are democratically elected -- the Governor's recent power grab, removing Democrats from elected positions, including Susan Bucher, should be seen for what it is, a gross overreach and a politically motivated move to consolidate power and obstruct the will of the people."
The Florida Senate must decide whether to permanently remove her.
In Broward County, U.S. District Judge Mark Walker had ruled that Rick Scott, the state’s former governor, overstepped when he effectively fired Snipes. Walker declined to reinstate Snipes but her ordered DeSantis to issue a new order by the end of the month explaining the reasons for Snipes’ suspension. Also Snipes must be granted a special hearing before the governor no later than March 31.
Snipes had planned to resign in early January.
