Citizens' petition asks for removal of supervisor of elections

In 16 years, under three different supervisors, Voter Service Manager Chris Palmer said she was never written up or given a warning on the job. 

“Chris never had a write-up put in her file in the 12 years I was there,” former Supervisor of Elections Mike Bennett said. 

After current SOE James Satcher lost the Republican nomination on Aug. 20 to Bennett’s former Chief of Staff Scott Farrington, Palmer was one of four employees to be fired the following day. Two were full-time employees, and two were temporary employees. 

Bennett said issuing written notices was part of the standard procedures while he served the office.

Instead, an unsigned “separation letter” was put in Palmer’s employee file on Aug. 26. The letter states that Satcher only held off on firing Palmer because of the impending primary election.

From firing employees to requesting a $841,340 budget increase, Satcher’s actions have led to more than 2,000 citizens signing a petition demanding Gov. Ron DeSantis, who appointed him in April, to remove him.

Separation letter

The separation letter alleges Palmer took extended breaks without marking them on her timesheet, made an insubordinate cry, hired her friends as temporary workers and told employees to work slower.

The letter reads, “Ms. Palmer was overheard instructing a temporary employee to ‘slow down,’ accompanied by a downward push hand motion. It is unclear whether this was an effort to create additional overtime opportunities for temporary staff or an effort to harm the office-wide goal of a safe and secure election.”

Palmer, Bennett and former temporary worker Teresa Margraf dispute the allegations. 

“You’re not allowed to state an opinion that is different from (Satcher's),” Palmer said. “He wants everyone to smile and agree and say he’s wonderful because he’s a narcissist. The atmosphere is depressing, and people are anxious.” 

Mark Darnell was the other full time employee SOE Chief of Staff David Ballard was charged with firing. He worked in the vote-by-mail department.

IT and Cyber Security Director Jonathan Clendenon addressed Darnell’s firing in an email: 

“This decision was made following his failure to fulfill a critical responsibility during the August Primary Election ... Mark chose to abandon his post, leaving the team severely understaffed on one of the most pivotal days of the year.”

Darnell did not return the East County Observer’s call for a comment. 

Margraf is one of the two temporary workers who claims Ballard said “her services were not required this election season.” Margraf said she and Palmer were not friends before she was hired in 2010. They became friends over the years.

“It was always a fun job,” Margraf said. “They can survive without me, but they may be in trouble without Chris. She did the job of four people.”

Margraf was adamant that it was not Palmer bullying insubordinates, it was Satcher who “chewed (Palmer) out in front of everyone.”

Safe and secure election

Bennett said citizens should be concerned about the turnover when it applies to Satcher’s promise of a “safe and secure election.” 

He said there’s been a loss of about 30 years of office experience between the employees who were let go. 

“Everybody down there, of course, is on pins and needles because they’re firing people,” Bennett said. “But they’re professionals. They do their job.”

Even though Farrington won the primary, he still has to win the general election against a write-in candidate. Bennett said he is confident that the procedures and remaining employees will ensure a safe and secure election. 

Bennett could be appointed to fill in, but Commissioner George Kruse finds it unlikely that DeSantis would admit to making a mistake by removing Satcher. 

“There were hundreds, if not thousands, of letters sent to DeSantis before the appointment, and it didn’t seem to make a difference,” Kruse said.