Brenda Snipes, the Broward County elections supervisor who was the lightning rod for the voting controversy during midterm elections in Florida, was suspended by Gov. Rick Scott on Friday, the Sun-Sentinel reported.
Snipes, 75, was replaced by Peter Antonacci, 70, president and CEO of Enterprise Florida. Antonacci will serve for the remainder of Snipes’ term until a replacement can be chosen by voters in November 2020, according to Scott’s office.
In a statement, Scott cited “misfeasance, incompetence and neglect of duty” as the reasons for suspending Snipes, who said she was resigning Jan. 4.
“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,” Scott said in a statement.
Former Gov. Jeb Bush appointed Snipes in 2003, WPLG reported.
Snipes could not be reached for comment. Antonacci deferred questions to the governor's office, the Sun-Sentinel reported.
Antonacci grew up in Hialeah, Florida, and earned urban planning and legal degrees from Florida State University and the FSU law school, WPLG reported.