Elections chief's role in Broward diminished

After problems Sept. 10 at polls in her county, Miriam Oliphant transfers duties to an office administrator.

©Associated Press
September 25, 2002

FORT LAUDERDALE -- Broward County Elections Supervisor Miriam Oliphant has signed a contract ceding virtually all control of her office to an administrator.

The move comes in the wake of a botched Sept. 10 primary election in Broward, widely blamed on Oliphant's inexperience and poor preparation.

The contract signed Monday cedes all election responsibilities and all personnel and budget decisions to Joe Cotter, who ran the office's day-to-day operations under Oliphant's predecessor.

Oliphant apologized last week for the problems in the primary. Florida officials needed a week to determine the winner of the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, largely because of problems in Broward and Miami-Dade counties with the opening and closing of polls, poll workers not showing up, new touch screen voting machines and the tallying of votes. Bill McBride eventually was declared the winner over Janet Reno by 4,800 votes.

The problems, reminiscent of the protracted 2000 presidential election, have been blamed on a lack of training, lack of familiarity with the new machines and poor organization.

Congressional observers will be among those trying to ensure that the Nov. 5 election goes smoothly in South Florida.

U.S. Rep. Mark Foley, R-West Palm Beach, said the House Administration Committee will send a small team to the polls, when voters elect the governor and a host of other positions.

Gov. Jeb Bush has asked U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft to investigate the mess. A spokesman for Secretary of State Jim Smith said Tuesday the department has not heard back about the request.

Foley sent his own letter to Ashcroft on Tuesday and said the Administration Committee would serve as the "eyes and ears" of Congress.

Cotter's employment contract leaves Oliphant as a virtual figurehead for the rest of her term, which ends November 2004.

Her only direct duties will be to hire her administrative assistant, select the office's lawyer and distribute voter outreach money. If Oliphant interferes with Cotter from now until September 2003, he can quit and collect his annual salary of $105,000. Or he can quit following the fall elections and collect $25,000 if he is unsatisfied with how the office is running.

The contract also requires public goodwill between the two officials. If Oliphant makes any derogatory remarks, Cotter is entitled to a severance package. He could lose his job if he says anything negative about Oliphant.

The agreement is an outgrowth of steps Oliphant agreed to take last week rather than face the possibility of being removed from office for misconduct because of the widespread election problems. County officials will manage the polls on Nov. 5.

Cotter's responsibilities will be similar to those he held before Jane Carroll retired as election supervisor in 2000.

Oliphant earns $122,000 a year. A spokesman said he did not know how she would cover Cotter's new salary. Oliphant and Cotter did not immediately return phone calls Tuesday.

Some members of Broward's black community questioned the decision by Oliphant, who is black.

"She's abdicating all of her power, and I can't imagine the sheriff doing this," said Andy Ingraham of the Rev. Al Sharpton's National Action Network. "To me, it is a modern-day coup d'etat."

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright