Scott suspends elections supervisor Snipes

Governor replaces her with close ally

Florida Gov. Rick Scott suspended Broward County elections supervisor Brenda Snipes on Friday and installed a close ally to lead an office that could play a pivotal role in the next presidential election.

Peter Antonacci, president and CEO of the state’s business-recruitment agency Enterprise Florida, will serve for the remainder of Snipes’ term until a replacement can be chosen by voters in November 2020, the governor’s office announced.

Scott, a Republican, cited “misfeasance, incompetence and neglect of duty” as the reasons for suspending Snipes, who had already said she was resigning Jan. 4. Snipes became a lightning-rod for criticism because of stumbles during Florida’s heated statewide recounts. Scott blasted Broward election officials Friday for “missed deadlines,” “lost ballots,” and “not being able to report basic information to the public.”

“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,” Scott said in a prepared statement.

Efforts to reach Snipes for comment Friday night were unsuccessful.

Antonacci, 70, deferred questions to the governor’s office. Scott

said in his statement that Antonacci does not intend to run for election.

Friday’s decision allowed Scott — who won a seat in the U.S. Senate — to appoint a successor for Snipes. His term as governor ends on Jan. 8, but senators will be sworn in on Jan. 3, producing speculation that Scott may leave the governor’s post early. Republican Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis has also been critical of Snipes.

The elections supervisor could wield considerable influence on the voting process — from setting the number of early-voting sites to determining staffing levels at precincts. The office is elected every four years.

“I know that Pete will be solely focused on running free and fair elections, and will not be running for election and will bring order and integrity back to this office,” Scott said in his statement.

Cynthia Busch, chair of the Broward Democratic Party, said she has concerns that Scott’s pick could have been motivated by partisan concerns. Several local candidates wanted to fill the vacancy, she said.

“If you are Rick Scott and you are now the senator from Florida and you want to lay the groundwork for the national party to be successful in Florida, having somebody like this person would be critical — a real trusted ally,” Busch said.

Broward Democrats Lori Parrish and David Brown and Republican Richard DeNapoli expressed interest in the job.

Parrish, a former county commissioner, school board member and property appraiser, said she was not surprised by Friday’s announcement.

“He’s got a good reputation, so hopefully he’ll do a good job in the 2020 election.” Parish said

Antonacci is listed as a Tallahassee resident and a registered Republican.

He started as a state prosecutor and was appointed as a special prosecutor by former Democratic Gov. Bob Graham. Antonacci served as the state’s deputy attorney general in the 1990s and has been a member of the state Ethics Commission.

He served as the top lawyer in Scott’s administration, and Scott has turned to him often to help repair institutions with leadership vacancies.

In 2012, Scott appointed Antonacci to fill a temporary vacancy as the state attorney in Palm Beach County. He then was appointed to a roughly two-year stint as head of the South Florida Water Management District. In July 2017, he was named CEO of Enterprise Florida.

Former Republican Gov. Jeb Bush appointed Snipes, 75, as Broward elections chief in 2003 to replace Miriam Oliphant, who had been suspended for incompetence. Snipes was elected to the office in 2004, and was re-elected three times.

Snipes was expected to be eligible to collect almost $130,000 a year in state pensions for her combined time as a public school educator and an elected official.

It was unclear Friday evening what impact, if any, Scott’s decision will have on her pension.

JOE CAVARETTA/SOUTH FLORIDA SUN SENTINEL Broward County Elections Supervisor Brenda Snipes has been suspended by Gov. Rick Scott. She was appointed by Gov. Jeb Bush.