ANNALS OF DeSANTISTAN: Judge dings Seminole elections chief for campaign activity (Orlando Sentinel)

From Orlando Sentinel: 

Judge dings Seminole elections chief for campaign activity

Chris Anderson posted signs at polling locations that could violate state law

Chris Anderson, Seminole Elections Supervisor, received an injunction from a judge for violating Florida campaign laws.

By SILAS MORGAN | smorgan@orlandosentinel.com | Orlando Sentinel

UPDATED: August 16, 2024 at 6:38 p.m.

A judge Friday issued a temporary injunction against Seminole Supervisor of Elections Chris Anderson for potentially violating campaign laws, the latest development in an already ugly primary race that now sees an old foe return to haunt Anderson.

Anderson, who is running for re-election as supervisor in Tuesday’s primary against school board member Amy Pennock, was sued Wednesday by a resident who donated to Pennock alleging his efforts to display his name and tout his candidacy at the Supervisor of Elections building and other polling locations violated Florida campaign laws.

18th Circuit Court judge Donna Goerner ruled that some of Anderson’s signs appear to have violated  statutes, while certain interactions with voters fall under the definition of soliciting, which is prohibited within 150 feet of a polling location. A hearing will be held Monday on whether to extend and strengthen the injunction.

“It appears that SOE has intermingled the official actions of the Supervisor with that of an incumbent candidate in a manner which is likely to be confusing to the voters and which has already been interpreted by voters as actively campaigning,” Goerner said in her order.

The injunction prevents Anderson from being present at polling places unless engaged in his official duties as supervisor which cannot be performed by other staffers, and from displaying material with his name inside voting booths until after election day in November, according to court records.

The plaintiff’s attorney in the suit is Anderson’s nemesis Philip Kaprow, his office’s former general counsel, who resigned after the two had a falling out, according to an ongoing slander lawsuit filed by Kaprow and his wife against Anderson and his wife in July.

Anderson unsuccessfully attempted to have Kaprow dismissed from a separate job with the county at a heated November meeting after Kaprow sent a letter to the Florida Department of State alleging incompetence in Anderson’s office. The meeting at one point saw Ebony Anderson quietly escorted out of the room by a deputy after interjecting to defend her husband.

One local official says the ruling didn’t go far enough.

Oviedo Mayor Megan Sladek believes Anderson’s actions are hypocritical. She told the Orlando Sentinel that poll workers affiliated with Anderson’s office took down her official portrait in Oviedo city hall because it was being used as a polling place in 2021 and 2023.

“It’s definitely a double standard, and if it’s good for the goose, it ought to be good for the gander,” said Sladek. “I’m definitely relieved that the judge has taken steps to try to make sure the process has integrity.”

Originally Published: August 16, 2024 at 6:37 p.m.