Possible turmoil coming in Hillsborough County, FL, after death of elections supervisor

[madfloridian]

who was a Democrat.

Phyllis Busansky was found dead of natural causes in her hotel room at a conference of elections supervisors recently.


RIP 1936 - 2009...Hat tip to Ybor City Stogie for the picture

Now we will see what Charlie Crist will do. Apparently it is traditional for him to choose someone from his own party to take her place. I don't think it is set in stone, so I hope he picks someone who will do a good job.

Naming successor to Busansky an opportunity, risk for Crist

Since the age of President Andrew Jackson, patronage has been a prized privilege that executives have used to maintain and reward the support of their most fervent followers.

And now many are watching to see whether Gov. Charlie Crist, who is running for the U.S. Senate next year, will follow or buck tradition when he chooses an interim supervisor of elections for Hillsborough County. Either way, he risks alienating voters he will need in his Senate bid.

The supervisor's job came open Tuesday when Phyllis Busansky, a Democrat, was found dead of natural causes in a St. Augustine hotel room. Busansky was a popular and charismatic politician who had been in office just five months.

Political tradition says Crist, a Republican, will choose Busanky's successor from the ranks of the GOP. The governor has drawn a challenge from conservative Republican Marco Rubio, a former speaker of the state House, in the race for the U.S. Senate seat.

"The Republicans are going to look at this as a test of loyalty to the party," said Darryl Paulson, a former political science professor at the University of South Florida-St. Petersburg. "Are you going to appoint one of your own? Certainly there's going to be some pressure on him to do what I think is the traditional thing.

Florida Republicans are seen to be getting behind Jeb's buddy, Marco, early on. There is much pressure to support Rubio over Crist from the more extremist members of the GOP who hold sway in Florida.

Hillsborough County voters need a respite from political shenanigans and out right fraud. The former elections supervisor is being investigated by the FBI.

Johnson Spent $2 Million On Voter Education

TAMPA - With millions of dollars at his disposal and his re-election in jeopardy, Hillsborough Elections Supervisor Buddy Johnson launched a voter education campaign last year unique in its scope and extravagance. The smiling supervisor's likeness was on colorful brochures mailed to voters. His name was broadcast on radio in English and Spanish.

The campaign ostensibly was to educate voters about the change in voting machines from touch-screen to optical scan mandated by the state Legislature. Johnson spent about $2 million in county and federal funds on the education effort, far more than surrounding counties.

He also left his successor, Phyllis Busansky, with just $300,000 in the elections office account out of $3 million the county commission appropriated to cover operations through Sept. 30.

Good luck to Charlie because his party will be all over him about this.

[madfloridian]

1. Just a few have applied so far.

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/jun/24/naming-successor-busansky-opportunity-risk-crist/

"As of Wednesday, Ivey said, the governor's office had not received any formal applications for the elections job, which will be up for election again in November 2010. However, five people have publicly expressed interest:

Janet Dougherty, a Republican, former board member of the Southwest Florida Water Management District and environmental consultant.

Rosemary Goudreau, an independent and former editorial page editor of The Tampa Tribune.

Craig Latimer, Democrat, Busanky's chief of staff and a former major in the Hillsborough sheriff's office.

Mark Proctor, a Republican business and political consultant and real estate agent.

Mark Cox, Republican, chief of investigations for the Hillsborough County State Attorney's Office."

Goudreau was one of the leading opponents of the deal to take the liability off CSX and put it on the citizens. She and Paula Dockery helped defeat the measure which would have burdened FL citizens with CSX burdens.

http://www.lakelandlocal.com/2009/02/wrong-track-for-florida-right-site-for-floridians/

[GardeningGal]

2. What's your guess on what he'll do? nt

[madfloridian]

3. I think he will probably appoint a Republican.

He is getting so much flak from his party here, and so many are supporting his opponent, Rubio, that I think he just might do what he has to do.

[flvegan]

4. He's going to appoint another dumbass republican.

He needs support for his pending Senate run. I was so happy to finally have a reprieve from Buddy fucking Johnson.