A press release, in reference to the Robinson vs. Rocco civil complaint, was just read on the air by WWJB talk show host, Bob Haa. Judge Booth ordered the Hernando County Canvassing Board to withhold the certification of the county commission, district 2, race and any swearing in ceremony for Rose Rocco until such time as court hearings are held in this case.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
12 comments:
The canvassing board filed a notice of appeal of the judge's order, which stays the effect of the order, and proceeded to certify the vote count, thus concluding their ministerial duty. It was a mystery why a court would order them not to report the votes. The canvassing board has no discretion to determine candidate qualifications. Meanwhile, we have more voters and more lawyers getting involved...a complaint was filed by a local lawyer, one Mr. Mason, representing a voter named Baldwin, who claims standing to join in the Robinson lawsuit by virtue of the fact that she is a voter. Ought to be a few thousand others eligible on the same ground, if that holds up, but fortunately there are not that many lawyers in Hernando County.
Thanks for the update...
Why can't you admit your a Rose Rocco supporter anyone that went by your business saw the Rocco signs we are not blind.
Curiouser and curiouser...
From the Times website:
Judge recused in county seat fight
LECANTO — The fight over Hernando’s District 2 County Commission seat stretched all the way to Lecanto for an emergency hearing Saturday — only to stall when the judge recused herself.
Late Friday, Brooksville attorney Joe Mason filed suit to join the legal wrangling between Nancy Robinson and Rose Rocco.
A hearing was held at the Citrus County jail Saturday morning, the only place an on-duty judge could be found.
But it came to a quick end.
“Is this Nancy Robinson?” Circuit Judge Barbara Gurrola asked after Mason handed her a brief.
There were a few quick nods.
“I’m going to recuse myself,” Gurrola said.
And with that the hearing was over.
The Hernando County Canvassing Board certified the vote totals in all its elections on Friday afternoon.
The board voted 2-1 to appeal a Friday morning injunction that sought to stop Rocco’s certification as the District 2 winner. That move created an automatic stay and allowed Rocco’s 1,444 vote victory to be declared official.
Neither candidate disputes the tally.
But Robinson, a Republican, who held the commission seat for 14 years, filed suit against Rocco earlier in the week, claiming Rocco should be disqualified because she didn’t live in the district at the time of the election.
Rocco, a Democrat, owns a house a block from district lines and she and her husband moved into the district this week. Her attorney, Jason Melton, has argued that “election” is when the vote is made official.
A judge will still have to rule on the facts of the case, and decide who will be the District 2 county commissioner.
But Mason wanted the judge to recall Friday’s vote certification and revise it — immediately — leaving out District 2, which led to Saturday’s hearing.
Mason, well known locally for his colorful and creative legal style, represents Janey Baldwin, a Republican political gadfly and erstwhile County Commission candidate.
Saturday’s edition of the drama started with a argument in the hallway about who should be allowed in the courtroom.
Janey Baldwin said that Jay Rowden, chairman of the county Democratic Executive Committee, had no business at the hearing and shouldn’t be allowed in because his name wasn’t on the suit.
The deputy sheriff who opened the heavy door to the jail looked puzzled about who should be let in.
Rocco’s attorney pointed out that Baldwin’s husband, Tom Baldwin, had just walked in and was not a member of the suit either.
“I’m paying the bill,” Tom Baldwin shouted back.
The deputy sheriff ended up letting everyone in — but it went for naught after Gurrola recused herself.
Just as the assemblage of lawyers and politicos was walking out of the courtroom, Spring Hill attorney Patricia Barwick was arriving with paperwork for four more intervenors in the suit — this time on Rocco’s behalf.
Barwick had come to tell the judge: “If you’re going to hear Joe Mason’s, hear ours.”
All sides said they’d continue the wrangling on Monday.
Well now the thorny Rose applied the district shopping technique to secure a seat, when will you do the same? You must be angered by how easy Rose got what you always wanted and couldn't get. Rowden got her pupet and the tax payers got the shaft.
"Rose got what you always wanted"
Not yet...there's a lot more legal strategy and argument to come before that's decided by a judge somewhere, and if there's an appeal, even more judges will look at it. Likely upshot---a lot of 2-2 votes on the commission until a final result, likely no time soon.
Actually changing parties and selling my soul to get elected just doesn't appeal to me. It will be interesting to see if Judge Merritt actually swears in Rocco and faces a contempt of court citation from Judge Booth...
"It will be interesting to see if Judge Merritt actually swears in Rocco and faces a contempt of court citation from Judge Booth."
First Annie Williams has to sign a certificate of election (the returns have already been sent to the state, and the certificate of the local supervisor is a prerequisite to being sworn in). The supervisor was named a defendant in the original complaint on Friday, but so far there is no injunction against her signing the certificate. There is an injunction against Rocco being sworn in, and it is questionable whether the County Attorney would advise using the stay argument in the face of potential questions about the validity of board action if Rocco votes. Most likely scenario is a four-member board until the matter is finally resolved, whenever that may be.
Very valid points...thanks your insight.
"selling my soul to get elected just doesn't appeal to me" I thought that's what you did in the last election when Whitehouse passed away and you used self-promotion to try to get an advantage in the election by applying to have the Governor appoint you for the remainder of her term, of course Janey did the same thing. In fact you two think alike and are beginning to look alike. She just has deeper pockets.
Numerous people made application for that vacant seat after Ms. Whitehouse passed...I believe 12 people in all. The governor chose Tom Mylander which was a good fit.
I have multiple personalties and none of them like you or your comments.
Post a Comment