TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Brenda Snipes, the Broward County elections supervisor whose handling of the 2018 election results frustrated and infuriated political candidates and lawmakers alike in the days after the election has been suspended from office.

Gov. Scott announced that he was suspending Snipes and appointing Peter Antonacci, currently the president and CEO of Enterprise Florida, to replace her. 

In his announcement, Gov. Scott said Antonacci would serve in Snipes' position until voters could choose a new supervisor in November 2020.

“Every eligible voter in Florida deserves their vote to be counted and should have confidence in Florida’s elections process," Scott said. "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.

"I know that Pete will be solely focused on running free and fair elections, will not be running for election and will bring order and integrity back to this office.” 

 

Scott told Spectrum News that there are ongoing inquiries into a litany of issues with the election returns in Broward County.

"If you stop and think about it, 93,000 ballots showed up after election night, the supervisor lost ballots, they mingled legal and illegal ballots," Scott said of Snipes. "I think for every citizen in our state, that they want to make sure our elections are free and fair and I’m going to continue to make that happen.”

Snipes was already expected to retire from the post in January.