So many controversies have bedeviled Broward County Elections Supervisor Brenda Snipes ‐ culminating in her office’s troubles in the aftermath of Florida’s chaotic 2018 elections ‐ that her days in office are now numbered, insiders and politicians say.She’s losing support from fellow Democrats and faces the increasing likelihood of an embarrassing suspension from office at the hands of either Gov. Rick Scott or his likely successor, Ron DeSantis.
Suspending Snipes from office would put a final exclamation point on one of the most contested midterms in recent Florida history, which has resulted in three statewide recounts ‐ for U.S. Senate, governor and agriculture commissioner ‐ as well as recounts in three local legislative races. Removal proceedings in the GOP-led Florida Senate could also cause a possible rift among Florida state Senate Democrats if the black caucus rallies around Snipes in the same way it did around her predecessor, who was also African-American, more than a decade ago.
Florida official Brenda Snipes: racism 'probably' a factor in attacks against me
[THEGUARDIAN] A top elections official in Florida who endured national humiliation after missing a midterms recount deadline by two minutes has told the Guardian that racism is "probably" a factor in the backlash against her.Brenda Snipes, elections supervisor of Broward county, was condemned by Republicans and Democrats after failing to submit tallies in the US Senate race between Rick Scott and Bill Nelson on schedule.
On Friday, with a hand count of votes under way, about two dozen protesters continued their vigil in a car park outside Snipes’s headquarters. Some claimed without evidence that she had missed the deadline deliberately because the results she oversaw boosted Scott’s overall lead.
In a short interview, Snipes, 75, said: "You know, the protesters have been claiming stuff all week so whatever they’re doing, that’s what they’re doing. That’s what they feel like they need to do."
Asked if she felt it was racially motivated, the supervisor replied: "Probably. Probably." She declined to elaborate.
Snipes had promised "100%" in a CNN interview earlier this week that Broward county, a Democratic stronghold, would complete its machine recount on time. It appeared to do so with just under 15 minutes to spare before Thursday’s 3pm deadline. The recount showed Scott, currently the Republican governor of Florida, down 606 votes from the first count and Nelson down 1,385 ‐ a net gain for Scott of 779 votes.