Feds, Florida In Dueling Lawsuits Over Voter Purge
June 12, 2012
The U.S. Department of Justice said Monday it will go to federal court to block Florida’s controversial effort to purge ineligible voters, ratcheting up a feud between the Obama administration and Gov. Rick Scott.
Word of the Department of Justice’s planned lawsuit came on the same day that Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner sued the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to gain access to a federal database in the ongoing effort to remove ineligible voters from statewide registration rolls.
In a five-page letter, however, Assistant Attorney General Thomas Perez said Florida is not complying with federal laws aimed at “ensuring that state efforts to find and purge ineligible persons from voter registration lists do not endanger the ability of eligible U.S. citizens to register to vote and maintain their voter registration status.”
“The federal statutes that the department has called to Florida’s attention here are longstanding requirements of which the state is certainly aware,” Perez wrote in the letter addressed to Detzner. “Because the state has indicated its unwillingness to comply with these requirements, I have authorized the initiation of an enforcement action against Florida in federal court.”
The controversy stems from the state Division of Elections earlier this year sending a list of about 2,600 names of potentially illegal voters to local supervisors of elections. The division used what it has acknowledged was an imperfect list put together from a state Highway Safety database of people who had a certain degree of likelihood to be in the country illegally.
Detzner said the agency would have liked to have sent a more reliable list but couldn’t get access to the federal Department of Homeland Security database. Local officials, he stressed, would ultimately be the ones to purge those voters who didn’t respond to a letter questioning their status.
But in the last few days, the Division of Elections released a list of the names of 86 voters it says have been removed by local supervisors because they were non-citizens between April 11 and June 8. About half of them are listed as having voted.
Detzner filed a lawsuit Monday in federal court in the District of Columbia to seek to force the federal agency to share citizenship information. Detzner said the state has been trying for nearly a year to gain access to DHS’s Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements Program (SAVE) database, which tracks citizenship and alien status.
“We can’t let the federal government delay our efforts to uphold the integrity of Florida elections any longer,” Detzner said in a statement. “We’ve filed a lawsuit to ensure the law is carried out and we are able to meet our obligation to keep the voter rolls accurate and current.”
But in the letter Monday, Perez said the state had not provided needed information to be able to use the SAVE database. The letter said that information involves what are known as alien registration numbers or certificate numbers found on immigration documents.
“In short, your claim that the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security have worked in concert to deny Florida access to the SAVE program is simply wrong,” Perez wrote. “By your own admission, Florida has been on notice for at least eight months that the SAVE program can verify naturalized and derived United States citizens only if Florida provided the appropriate numeric identifiers, and where necessary, the underlying documentation.”
The Department of Justice lawsuit likely will center on two federal voting laws, the National Voter Registration Act and the Voting Rights Act.
Department officials argue that the National Voter Registration Act prevents states from systematically purging voters within 90 days of an election. With Florida hold primary elections Aug. 14, that 90-day period would have started May 16.
The Voting Rights Act, meanwhile, requires Florida to get approval from the U.S. attorney general or a federal court before making election changes in five counties that have a history of discrimination. Florida has not received such approval for the purge effort.
Despite the Department of Justice arguments, Scott has continued to push the effort — and has received hundreds of e-mails in support from across the country.
“My job is to enforce the laws of Florida,” Scott said on Fox News on Monday. “I’m the governor of Florida. That is what I got elected to do. I expect every other elected official to do their job and I expect they will.”
Opponents of the purge have criticized it as too broad-brushed, and note that the 86 voters identified as ineligible would only be about one-third of one percent of all those on the list sent to supervisors.
It’s also not clear how many of the 86 voters were among the 2,600 names that have been sent to local supervisors of elections for possible removal.
Local press reports have said some of the voters who have been removed in recent weeks were taken off voter rolls after they voluntarily came forward or were sought out by local officials not using the list sent to them by the state. For example, the Palm Beach Post reported that the one purged voter from Palm Beach County who was removed, Anabel Gomez, had to have come to the local supervisors and asked to be removed, because the local supervisor, Democrat Susan Bucher, never sent out any letters seeking to remove voters identified by the state.
It is a felony for non-citizens to register to vote, and at least some of those removed are likely to face charges if local prosecutors pursue them.
Of the 86 registered voters the state said local supervisors had removed in the last couple months, more than half – 44 of them – were in Lee County. No other county came close – Miami-Dade was next with 15 – suggesting the Lee County Supervisor of Elections office was much more aggressive during the period in culling the voter rolls of ineligible voters.
By The News Service of Florida
Harold Eugene Harrison
June 12, 2012
Mr. Harold Eugene Harrison, 72, died Thursday, June 7, 2012m in Pensacola. He was a native and resident of Atmore. He attended the Church of the Living God, was a U.S. Navy veteran and a former employee of Exxon and Mallard.
He was preceded in death by a son, Ernie Holden; a granddaughter, Maggie Noell; his parents, Ezie Lee and Luvern Harrison; and two sisters, Verna Mae Harris and Alice Ruth Harris.
He is survived by his wife, Jackie Harrison of Robertsdale; five sons, Harold Eugene (Dana ) Harrison II, Bobby Carlos (Debbie) Harrison, Christopher Robin (Sharon) Holden and Michael Wayne Jordan, all of Atmore, and Joe Arnold (Linda) Holden of Thomasville; five daughters, Cheryl Ann Crews of Summerdale, Robilyn Olivia (Robby) Whatley of McDavid, Henrietta (Dusty) Adams of Walnut Hill, Jaquelyn Lorraine (Jeffrey) Flowers of Tuscaloosa and Lisa Lynette Noell of Draper, VA.; four brothers, the Rev. Earl Harrison, Robert (Faye) Harrison, Donald Ray (Barbara) Harrison, all of Atmore, and David Michael (Viva) Harrison of East Brewton; five sisters, Mary Helen (Charlie) Jones, Dorothy Ann Milstead, and Kaye (Kenneth) Robinson, all of Atmore, Faye (Eddie) Odom of Perdido, and Sarah Frances (Ken) O’Leary of Robertsdale; 28 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, June 12, at 2 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with the Rev. Earl Harrison and Brother Robert Harrison officiating. Burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery with Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home directing.
Jones Road Open After Washout Repair
June 11, 2012
Jones Road in the northwestern corner of Escambia County is once again open. Heavy rains Monday morning washed out the sparsely populated dirt road in the Nokomis community, but it was repaired by Monday afternoon. Submitted photo by Kevin Winingar for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Swimming Health Alert For All Of Escambia County
June 11, 2012
Effective immediately, the Escambia County Health Department has issued health alerts for all inland swimming and water recreational areas in Escambia County, except those located on the Gulf of Mexico.
The health department advises against any water-related activities until a bacteriological survey reveals that the inland bathing areas are safe. Rainfall from this past weekend may have contaminated these waters with sewage and storm water that contains water-borne pathogens. Individuals, especially those with wounds and weakened immune systems, may be at risk of contracting a water-borne disease if they come into contact with these inland waters, according to the health department.
The Escambia County Health Department will assess the safety of swimming areas and notify the public when regularly monitored areas are safe for water-related activities. For more information contact the Escambia County Health Department at (850) 595-6786.
Latest Escambia Emergency Update, Including Road Closure List
June 11, 2012
Escambia County remains under a state of emergency as the task of cleaning up and assessing millions of dollars damages begins today.
Hundreds of cars, residences and businesses were flooded over the weekend as portions of the county received over 20 inches of rain in the second rainiest day ever in Pensacola.
“We have sustained significant damages to infrastructure,” a statement of the Escambia County Emergency Operations Center said Monday morning. “County staff has begun damage assessments and will continue throughout the week.”
Tens of millions of dollars worth of damage occurred to Escambia County’s roads and bridges and to several public buildings:
- Major damage was suffered at the Escambia County Sheriff’s Central Booking and Detention Center with a flooded basement. Click here for more.
- A corrections facility at 2251 North Palafox sustained heavy water damage to the first floor.
- The Warrington Tax Collector’s office on Navy Boulevard is closed until further notice due to water damage. Residents can visit the downtown office on Palafox or the Marcus Point office on “W” Street during normal business hours. The Tax Collector’s office can be reach at (850) 438-6500.
- Child support hearings in Escambia County scheduled for Monday June 11 have been canceled. Participants will be notified of a new hearing date. All other courts will be open for “business as usual”.
The Escambia Emergency Operations Center remains activated at Level 2 and will be monitoring conditions throughout the day. Ordinary county operations are resuming as normal on Monday. ECAT bus transportation has resumed as normal.
Warrington United Methodist Church, 301 East Winthrop Avenue in Pensacola is now the designated shelter. There are currently seven people in the shelter.
Residents with damage to their homes, cars or other property should contact their insurance company, according to the county.
Here is the latest road closure information:
· Little Creek Drive – closed between Lillian Highway and Black Oak
· Oak Valley – closed – bridge out
· Sandra Drive – closed – asphalt failure
· Coral Creek Drive – closed – crews are currently checking roadway
Flooded Jail Gets Temporary Power; Early Releases Considered
June 11, 2012
Temporary power has been restored to the Escambia County Jail after heavy rains flooded the basement of the facility on Saturday, and authorities are looking at early and pretrial release options to decrease the number incarcerated at the lockup.
The basement of the facility was completely flooded, taking out electricity to the entire jail. With the restoration of temporary power, lights and fans returned on Sunday. The basement of the building was completely destroyed with some interior walls collapsing. The basement houses the kitchen and laundry facilities for the main jail.
Food is being brought to the main jail form the nearby jail annex.
Representatives from the State Attorney’s Office and a judge are reviewing cases to see if anyone is eligible for pretrial or early release. Only those with misdemeanor non-violent charges are eligible for consideration.
Monday Weather: More Rain?
June 11, 2012
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- This Afternoon: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 87. South wind between 10 and 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Tonight: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 10pm. Increasing clouds, with a low around 73. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph.
- Tuesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph.
- Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.
- Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.
- Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. East wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 68.
- Saturday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 86.
- Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 66.
- Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88.
Cantonment Woman Busted For Planting ‘Cute’ Pot Plants
June 11, 2012
A Cantonment woman has been charged with planting three marijuana plants because, she told deputies, they were “cute”.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office discovered three marijuana plants growing near a no-name trailer park on Tate School Road not far from Tate High School.
Tommi Marie Schneider, 34, told deputies that she found the plants already pulled from the ground along nearby railroad tracks. She admitted to deputies that she knew the plants were illegal marijuana but planted them anyway near her mobile home lot.
According to an arrest report, Schneider said she did not know why she planted the marijuana plants other than she thought they were “cute”.
The marijuana plants were seized as evidence, and Schneider was booked into the Escambia County Jail on felony charged of producing marijuana.
IP Donates Lifesaving AED’s To Health And Hope Clinic
June 11, 2012
International Paper recently donated three automated external defibrillators (AED) to the non-profit Health and Hope Clinic. One of the AED units had already been installed in the Century location of the Health and Hope Clinic.
An AED is a portable electronic device that automatically diagnoses the potentially life threatening heart rhythms and is able to treat them through defibrillation (shock), with the goal of restarting a healthy rhythm.
The Health and Hope Clinic quietly opened last October in the old Escambia County Health Department building at 501 Church Street in Century. It is the second location for the clinic, which was first established in Pensacola back in 2003 by the Pensacola Bay Baptist Association to meet the needs of uninsured and medically underserved in Escambia County. The clinic is entirely volunteer and donor supported.
Pictured top: The Health and Hope Clinic in Century. Pictured inset: A new AED installed inside the Century Health and Hope Clinic. Submitted and NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tax Collector: Cantonment Office Closed; Warrington Office Flooded
June 11, 2012
The Escambia County Tax Collector’s Cantonment is closed starting today, as it is moved permanently to a new location in Molino. A newly constructed 7,000 square foot building for the tax collector and property appraiser will open in Molino on Monday, July 2.
The Warrington Tax Collector’s office on Navy Boulevard is now closed until further notice to due to water damage during weekend’s heavy rains. Tax collector Janet Holley said the building had about two inches of water inside.
The Molino service center on Highway 95A will process motor vehicle and vessel registrations and titles, hunting and fishing licenses, property taxes, and business tax receipts. Limited driver license and ID card services will be available by appointment only. The new office will continue to offer drive thru service and a 24-hour drop box. Office hours will remain the same — Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m
The county currently leases the Cantonment service center location in the old Winn Dixie Shopping Center for about $60,000 per year. That money, Holley said, will likely be saved and returned by her office to the county’s coffers at the end of the fiscal year.
The current employees at the Cantonment location will be transferred to the tax collector’s Marcus Pointe office during the move, and then moved to Molino on July 2.
The Escambia County Tax Collector offices remaining open are:
Marcus Pointe
6451 North W Street
Pensacola, Florida 32505
Downtown
213 Palafox Place
Pensacola, Florida 32502
All offices are open 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Pictured: The new Escambia County tax collector and property appraiser office in Molino. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.