Posted February 18 2005
Jeb Bush rethinks taking election powers after firestorm of criticism
Governor rethinks taking power from county election supervisorsBy Brent Kallestad
Tallahassee ·
Facing a firestorm of criticism in the wake of an attempt to consolidate more elections supervisory powers under his authority, Gov. Jeb Bush signaled a willingness to compromise Thursday.
Some of the state's 67 elections supervisors said Bush broke faith with them when the secretary of state's office -- an agency of the governor's office -- disclosed its recommendations for changes in the state's elections laws in a late afternoon conference call Wednesday.
"This whole process comes at the 11th hour out of the blue, completely contradicting what the Division of Elections has been telling the supervisors of elections for the last two years," veteran Leon County elections chief Ion Sancho said Thursday.
"It's clear the considerations to make this change are political and not legal ones."The recommendations from Secretary of State Glenda Hood's office also blindsided legislative leaders.
more:
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/florida/sfl-felect18feb18,0,2320468.story?coll=sfla-news-florida