Governor DeSantis, you have the authority to remove our unpopular and incompetent Supervisor of Elections ever in Manatee County. You appointed James Satcher, who had zero experience running elections or managing employees, over Scott Farrington, another highly qualified Republican who had applied. Farrington was recommended by the previous Supervisor of Elections, Mike Bennett, a Republican who also served our state as a Representative and Senator. Bennett had to resign due to personal reasons.

On August 20, Manatee County Republicans used their votes to make it very clear that Satcher is unacceptable. You have more than enough proof that Satcher should be removed for malfeasance and/or misfeasance, for not following election laws, interfering with the election canvassing board determinations, calling voters who changed party affiliation names and accusing them of rigging the election, as well as purchasing a voting audit system that failed to follow the statutory procedures to be used in the Manatee County primary.

Scott Farrington is a good Republican, but more than that, he will administer the office in a non-partisan manner. We deserve a person with Scott Farrington’s character to be our Supervisor of Elections and we deserve it now before Satcher causes more harm to what was once the most respected elections office in Florida.

It is important to stress that Mr. Farrington has been there for the past 11 years, serving under Mike Bennett’s leadership. Our community has suffered enough in the short time since you appointed Satcher. Your immediate action to remove him is warranted and requested by all those signing this petition.

Please, Governor, put your citizens’ demands over whatever political pressure you may have felt in appointing Satcher and remedy what you should now realize was an enormous mistake on your part. Give Manatee County citizens the SOE they chose and deserve.