Oliphant's fate hangs on report, Gov. Bush

BROWARD ELECTIONS Oliphant's fate hangs on report, Gov. Bush Gov. Jeb Bush is 'likely' to remove Broward Elections Supervisor Miriam Oliphant if a report due today indicates no progress has been made in fixing problems in her office. BY ERIKA BOLSTAD ebolstad@herald.com

Gov. Jeb Bush said Tuesday it is ''likely'' he will remove Broward Supervisor of Elections Miriam Oliphant from office if a report, due today, shows she has not made progress toward straightening out her troubled office.

But if Secretary of State Glenda Hood, the report's author, finds that progress has been made toward rectifying a range of problems, he will allow the Broward Democrat to remain in office, the governor said in an interview.

If Hood's report recommends suspension and Bush acts, the issue would go to the state Senate, which could overturn Bush's action.

''It's not the kind of thing you do flippantly, or at the drop of a hat,'' Bush said. ``She is an elected official, so therefore removal is something I take very seriously and do seldomly.''

Handicapping the governor's next move is difficult. Some political observers argue that he benefits politically from Oliphant's remaining in office. They note, for instance, that her presence polarizes the Democrats in Florida's most Democratic county and that if her office misplaces votes in upcoming elections they are likely to be the votes of Democrats, not Republicans.

Broward County's one million voters include 508,200 Democrats and 287,172 Republicans.

''I think he takes great delight in any confusion that can be fostered in Broward County,'' Broward Democratic Chairman Mitch Ceasar of Gov. Bush.

And yet, while Oliphant's removal from office might close a difficult chapter for Broward Democrats, party loyalists are appalled by the thought of Bush removing Oliphant and appointing a replacement -- possibly even a Republican -- for a duly elected Democratic official.

''She's in office, leave her there,'' said Jack Shifred, a Broward Democratic activist. ``Let her finish out her term.''

State Sen. Mandy Dawson, a black Democrat from Fort Lauderdale, said she would fight any attempt to permanently remove the county's highest-ranking black countywide elected official from office. As vice-chair of the Senate Ethics and Elections Committee, it's likely Dawson would have a prominent role in the process.

''It's probably one of the saddest situations that I think this county has seen,'' Dawson said. ``I don't think it serves any of us any value.''

The clamor to suspend Oliphant has risen over the past several weeks, crossing party and racial lines. With the exception of a handful of religious leaders from the black community, Oliphant has few vocal supporters remaining.

Last week, a Herald poll found that 60 percent of Broward voters surveyed think Bush should remove Oliphant from office.

Still, many hard-line Broward Democratic party officials say they cringe at the thought of a Republican governor suspending a Democrat from office, despite more than a year of problems in Oliphant's office.

They question Bush's reasons and wonder what the governor -- and by extension his brother's presidential reelection campaign -- have to gain from the suspension. The president will be in Florida to visit Orlando and Fort Myers later on this week.

''They're political animals,'' Shifrel said of the governor and the president. ``They will do things based on what they see as being in their best interest.''

Black Democrats also say they fear the repercussions of removing someone elected countywide; Oliphant is the first black woman elected to countywide political office in Broward. The tension has already created a split between black Democrats and the rest of the party, they point out.

While black Democrats may no longer support Oliphant, they're not actively campaigning for her suspension.

Many Democrats wonder who would replace Oliphant if she is suspended -- a Democrat or a Republican?

Republicans say Bush is making a decision that could rectify problems in a troubled election office, plagued since the 2002 primary election by management and budget disputes.

Bush has one motive, Broward Republicans say: ensuring elections are run properly in the county.

And the politically popular thing would have been to remove Oliphant from office in January, when the County Commission first wanted him too, Republicans point out.

''His patience and deliberation have demonstrated, in my opinion, sensitivity to elected nature of the office,'' said lobbyist and former Bush aide, Justin Sayfie of Fort Lauderdale.

In the recent Deerfield Beach, elections only 6,700 ballots of 42,000 were returned to the election offices.

This was a mail in election and no polling places were opened. After a little investigating I discovered our snowbirds didn't receive notice of this election and didn't have an opportunity to vote because they didn't receive absentee ballots. This would account for at least 25% of the voters; at least twice as many people than actually voted.

Even most Demmycrats and many blacks want Miriam Oliphant removed here in Broward. However, if Jeb removes Oliphant then these same folks will accuse Jeb of racism.

The reason why I WON'T be making use of a mail-in ballot to vote next year in the Presidential election is I am scared the screwups by Miriam Oliphant will result in my ballot being discarded. Therefore I will be voting on election day via machine. It's a bit inconvenient but it beats having my vote count for nothing. I recommend that other Broward Freepers do likewise.

PJ,

I agree with what you say about the risk of having your vote thrown out using the mail-in ballots.

I also find it insulting that we have to pay $0.60 in postage to return our ballots, which amounts to a poll tax.

Your tag line just reminded me I have to go to the store before work.

Enjoy the day

You ever try Cuban coffee? I can't drink enough of that stuff. Unfortunately you can't make it using a simple coffee maker. It's more complicated than that so you have to buy it on the outside. MUCH BETTER than that Starbucks crap.

Haven't had Cuban Coffee in a couple years. I was thinking of going down to Miami for some video footage of FTAA this week. I'll keep that in mind if I do. I remember it to be strong rich brew and That would hit your senses from a block away.

Here in Deerfield it's easier to find the Brazilian blends when we go out.

You're right. This situation smells like a Dem trap for Jeb. If he moves against this lady, we'll never hear the last of the racist charges by the Dems and their media lackeys. It will be used to tarnish Dubya also.

You've nailed it right there. The NAACP and the black leaders in Broward are all but begging Jeb to remove her from office. If he does remove her, these groups will instantly go on the attack, accusing him of racism, smearing the president with the racism charge, and claiming that once again the Bush Brothers are scheming to disenfranchise blacks so Dubya can steal another election. Jeb's going to get lambasted no matter what he does, but the risks are much less if he stays out of it.

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