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Oliphant's Mother Barred From Working As Poll Worker
Cotter To See If Oliphant Violated Antinepotism Law
POSTED: 7:12 a.m. EST October 30, 2002
UPDATED: 8:45 a.m. EST October 30, 2002
BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. -- It seems the mother of Broward Elections Supervisor Miriam Oliphant will not be allowed to return as a poll worker on Nov. 5.
Deputy Supervisor Joe Cotter is trying to see if Oliphant violated Florida's antinepotism law.
Broward County poll worker Kathleen Weinstein, a paraplegic who lives on Social Security and said she needs the $135 wage from the primary election, claims she was laid off from her job to make room for Oliphant's mother -- Hattie McKinzie.
In the days before the primary, McKinzie was assigned to work at Weinstein's precinct.
"They told me that Mrs. Oliphant's mother had requested to work in that precinct, so I couldn't any longer," Weinstein said.
Florida's antinepotism law forbids the public officials from hiring their relatives, but state ethics officials said it was unclear if Oliphant's case applies.
Oliphant, who has been reduced to a figurehead after the primary disaster in Broward County, did not return a phone message Monday.
Cotter, who has taken over the supervising of the election office, called the decision to remove Weinstein from her job a "terrible mistake."
Poll workers may be considered independent contractors, not employees, because they are hired only for election days.
"There has never been an opinion on it," said Helen Jones, spokeswoman for the state Ethics Commission. "The key would be whether being a poll worker would be considered a 'position."'