Looks like this dictator thing runs in the Bush family. While big brother Dubya's forays into totalitarianism are well documented here, I haven't seen anything here at DKos about
Jeb's latest interference with the Democratic process, so here goes.
As background, here in Florida, we elect our county sheriffs. They are constitutional officers serving four-year terms (the last election was 11/04), and it's not entirely uncommon for someone to vacate the position to seek higher office during the term, which is just what's happening here in Alachua County (blue, blue, blue Gainesville). Florida law says that if the position is vacated with 28 or more months left, a special election must be held. If there are fewer than 28 months left, a special election may be held or an appointment may be made by the Governor.
There's the backstory, follow the extended entry for Jeb's power grab ...
Many months ago current Alachua County Sheriff Steve Oelrich (the only Republican currently serving a county-wide office on this island of blue) announced he would be resigning from office to run for State Senate. The election for that office is 11/06. Within weeks, six candidates announced to run for Sheriff (four D's, two R's), and it looked like a strong primary battle on both sides -- in other words, a fine example of the Democratic process at work.
Oelrich announced that he would turn in his resignation letter in May, but that it would not be effective until October, when the heat of the campaign season would begin.
In February, the state elections office issued an opinion that regardless of the effective date, an election should take place.
This past week, however, Governor Jeb decided that wasn't good enough, and that he will seek the State Supreme Court's opinion on the matter, because it's a "complicated question."
Now obviously, if Jeb gets his way, the people of Alachua County, Florida are going to be stuck with a Republican Sheriff that we didn't elect for more than two years. And then in 2008, that Sheriff will have been an incumbent for more than two years and will have a huge leg up on the opposition.
If you're a Floridian, please contact Jeb's office and voice your opinion that the people should have the last word on who will be their highest law enforcement authority -- regardless of party.