It took long enough but Broward County Election Supervisor Brenda Snipes has finally been punished.
Florida Gov. Rick Scott on Friday suspended Brenda Snipes from her duties as the supervisor of elections in Broward County, and chose her temporary successor following the contentious recount in the state’s governor and U.S. Senate races during the midterm elections earlier this month.
Scott, who is headed to the Senate after defeating Democratic incumbent Sen. Bill Nelson, faulted Snipes for “misfeasance, incompetence and neglect of duty” in a news release announcing his decision made via executive order.
The announcement comes after Snipes, who faced heat regarding her handling of votes during this year’s elections, reportedly submitted her resignation earlier this month to the governor, which was to go into effect in January.
Citing numerous media reports, the governor accused Broward election officials of committing “multiple violations of Florida law” during the midterm elections, the news release said.
“Every eligible voter in Florida deserves their vote to be counted and should have confidence in Florida’s elections process,” Scott said. “After a series of inexcusable actions, it’s clear that there needs to be an immediate change in Broward County and taxpayers should no longer be burdened by paying a salary for a Supervisor of Elections who has already announced resignation.”
“I know that Pete will be solely focused on running free and fair elections, will not be running for election and will bring order and integrity back to this office,” he continued.
Snipes was appointed as the top elections official in Broward County in 2003 by then-Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, a Republican. Snipes, a Democrat, has been elected to the role four times since.
BREAKING: @FLGovScott suspends Broward Supervisor of Elections Brenda Snipes effective immediately.
She planned to retire in January.
— John Cardillo (@johncardillo) November 30, 2018
HUGE NEWS!
Governor Rick Scott has suspended Brenda Snipes from her role as supervisor of elections.
Peter Antonacci will fill the role until at least 2020, which means that democrats will have less power in Broward County! https://t.co/r202toT0J7#BrendaSnipes
— ThePersistence (@ScottPresler) December 1, 2018
#breaking: Gov. Scott has suspended Broward Supervisor of Elections Brenda Snipes for "misfeasance, incompetence and neglect of duty." @CBSMiami pic.twitter.com/bbC4EHccQN
— Jorge K Gonzalez (@jorgekgonzalez) November 30, 2018
INBOX: “Following widespread issues with voting in Broward County, Governor Rick Scott today issued Executive Order 18-342 to immediately suspend Supervisor of Elections Brenda Snipes from office for misfeasance, incompetence and neglect of duty.”
— Jake Tapper 🦅 (@jaketapper) November 30, 2018
.@FLGovScott just fired Brenda Snipes, Broward Supervisor of Elections. We call on her replacement Pete Antonacci to fire Snipes’ entire staff & clean up the corruption in Broward SOE. This should be followed up by state & federal criminal investigations! https://t.co/9cFrOqRTXE
— Tim Canova (@Tim_Canova) November 30, 2018
Brenda Snipes is a fraud. She should have been gone when @DWStweets had her DESTROY ballots in last election.
Democrat Debbie Wasserman-Schultz needs to go NEXT!
— Kambree (@KamVTV) November 30, 2018
.@FLGovScott suspends Broward elections chief Brenda Snipes, citing "misfeasance, incompetence and neglect of duty." Pete Antonacci is replacement til elex in '20
— Adam Smith (@adamsmithtimes) November 30, 2018
