Ousted elections chief to sue Bush over removal

Naples Daily News (AP via) ^ | May 4, 2005 | ADRIAN SAINZ, Associated Press

[The Great Yazoo]

MIAMI — Former Broward County elections supervisor Miriam Oliphant said today she will sue Gov. Jeb Bush, claiming race was a factor in his decision to remove her from office amid allegations of negligence and a botched 2002 primary.

"My civil rights have been violated and my constitutional rights have been violated by the state of Florida," Oliphant said.

Oliphant and her attorney, Ellis Rubin, announced the plans for a federal lawsuit one day after the state Senate voted 32-7 along racial lines to uphold Bush’s 2003 decision to suspend Oliphant, who is black. Oliphant’s supporters in the Senate argued that she was singled out even though white election supervisors in other counties also made mistakes in the 2002 election.

"Yes, there are racial overtones to this whole matter and we intend to bring those before a federal judge," Rubin told reporters. He said the lawsuit would seek millions of dollars in damages but did not specify an exact amount.

Bush spokesman Jacob DiPietre said such a lawsuit would be "without merit" and noted that the governor’s decision was "affirmed in an overwhelming and bipartisan manner" by the Senate.

A report by Special Master Steve Kahn, released in January after a trial in the Senate, found that Oliphant was guilty of "grave and frequent neglect, gross ignorance of official duties and gross carelessness" while in office.

Kahn said it was not about race, noting that Bush replaced Oliphant with another black female Democrat — Brenda Snipes, a former school administrator who served as an interim elections supervisor until she was elected to the post in 2004.

Oliphant ran a deficit of more than $936,000 and lost 268 absentee ballots in the 2002 primary that were later found in a filing cabinet, the report said. In addition, 23 polling places in Broward County opened late in 2002 and 32 closed early.

Oliphant, who lost a bid for re-election in last year’s Democratic primary, has argued that underfunding by the Broward County Commission and sabotage by subordinates caused the problems in 2002.

Tuesday, Sen. Mandy Dawson offered a substitute resolution that would have not only reinstated Oliphant, but exonerated her of the charges and awarded her backpay and attorney’s fees. But Dawson withdrew the amendment after more than an hour of debate and several impromptu meetings of senators.

Copyright 2005, Naples Daily News. All Rights Reserved

[Calpernia]

And let the clean up of Florida begin!

[Paradox]

Gee, what a surprise. I dont think this suit will get anywhere, if I am not mistaken, many of those who charged Oliphant with malfeasance are African American.

[Guillermo]

A lefty playing the race card??

You don't say!

**the state Senate voted 32-7 along racial lines to uphold Bush’s 2003 decision to suspend Oliphant**

Of course, teh Senate's racist too.

And, Ellis Rubin is her lawyer? Shock!

[Red Badger]

This woman is an idiot and her lawyer, Rubin, gives lawyers a bad name...........as if they didn't already have one.......

[G.Mason]

A true representation of butt ugly.

I'm sure she needs to sue someone. Prolly her parents.

Think she knows who they were?

[MisterRepublican]

Hot diggity! Rev. Jackson and Rev. Sharpton get a free vacation to sunny south Florida! Woo-hoo!

[poobear]

Miriam Oliphant is as crooked and inept as anyone can possibly sink. Across the board she has been an embarrassment to her colleagues. Do a search. The list of her screw ups or down right ignoring the election laws go on for pages. She is a bought politician. Miami-Dade County, what a surprise.

Did they ever find the missing voting machines under her watch? Hmmm?

[The Great Yazoo]

Miami-Dade County, what a surprise.

Broward, actually, but what's the diff?

[trebb]

Kahn said it was not about race, noting that Bush replaced Oliphant with another black female Democrat — Brenda Snipes, a former school administrator who served as an interim elections supervisor until she was elected to the post in 2004.

Gee, if it wasn't about race, how dare they be condescending enough to replace a Black woman with a...a...a...Black woman? Yep, it's racism to the max.../sarcasm (as if it was needed)

[jmaroneps37]

This has been going on for so long, it seems like Reagan was in office when it started. This woman is an incompetent dim wit who doesn't have a shame gene in her body.

[mewzilla]

I'll bet discovery will be a hoot...

[poobear]

I know, I decided to go away after I hit the post button.

"What's the diff?" Nothing!

The whole SE coast of Florida is relocated north easterners (libs). Dade's just full and Broward's still has room. God, what happens when it's full too? Ugh oh Great one!

[sandydipper]

Calling Mary Beary - calling Mary Beary - Mary come in puhleze.

[The Great Yazoo]

God, what happens when it's full too?

We may live to regret that I-75's completed all the way across Alligator Alley.

[poobear]

Maybe, but at least in Naples, you are expected to pay for everything. Not a lot of room for career government employees, and nowhere for them to live. Too expensive.

[The Great Yazoo]

Not a lot of room for career government employees, and nowhere for them to live.

Actually, there are a surprising number of government employees here in Naples (or, at least, Naples' environs). Retirees, mostly, but a lot of current Miami-Dade and Broward firefighters. The ones I know run small businesses on the side.

[NonValueAdded]

Let her, she is a joke.

[Joe Brower]

Florida Freeper

I'm compiling a list of FReepers interested in Florida-related topics.
If you want to be added, please FReepMail me.

[Road Warrior ‘04]

Wasn't she the Elections Supervisor for the 2000 election, also? She was removed because: (1)She is incompetent; and (2)she is incompetent!