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Where's Buddy Johnson?

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By MIKE SALINERO

msalinero@tampatrib.com

Published: December 18, 2008

TAMPA - Elections Supervisor Buddy Johnson didn't get the $2.3 million he wanted to cover what he characterized as "unexpected" election costs, but he will get an audit courtesy of the Hillsborough County Commission.

Commissioners, clearly miffed that Johnson didn't show up in person Wednesday to make his budget request, did not accept explanations for election cost overruns given by the supervisor's chief deputy, Kathy Harris. The $2.3 million represents a 30 percent increase over Johnson's $6.7 million budget this year.

"I can't believe he's not here to answer our questions," said Commissioner Rose Ferlita, clearly infuriated. "It's inexcusable; it's unacceptable."

Audit To Focus On Shortfall

Instead the commission got Harris' permission to have county budget workers begin inspecting the elections supervisor's financial documents today. The audit will focus on determining the true financial shortfall in the elections office.

"Without our administration going in and validating what our liabilities are, that's the only thing this commissioner can support," Commissioner Jim Norman said, making the motion to conduct the audit and reject the $2.3 million emergency appropriation.

Commissioners said they wanted the audit completed by the time the new supervisor, Phyllis Busansky, takes office Jan. 4. Busansky defeated Johnson in the November election. Calls to Johnson at the elections office and his cell phone were not returned Wednesday.

Harris told commissioners the crush of new voters this year and the large number of early voters created problems that were not anticipated when Johnson submitted his elections budget to commissioners earlier this year.

More than 72 percent of registered voters cast ballots, the largest turnout in county history, according to Harris. The 109,740 early ballots cast also set a county record.

"Those things put a tremendous impact on staffing for the election," Harris said.

Critics Fault Planning

Among the expenses requested in the $2.3 million is $577,000 for overtime and other staffing requests related to election night problems.

"We had to go through two recounts, you recall," Harris said.

But critics say the election night meltdown that delayed a final vote tally for days was due largely to Johnson's bungling and lack of planning.

Other additional costs cited by Harris included 1,800 privacy booths for the early voters at $125 apiece, and 220 ballot boxes at $1,850 apiece. Commissioners wondered why Johnson didn't notify the county the additional boxes and booths would be needed when he saw the heavy early voter turnout.

Johnson also requested $300,000 to cover the "transition" to the new supervisor. Harris said the money would mainly cover printing and binding costs to replace election notices and other literature that bear Johnson's name and picture.

She said state law requires that the supervisor be identified on the literature. But Busansky and others said Johnson used the elections office literature as taxpayer-funded campaign promotions in his failed re-election bid.

Commissioners' main concern was that election workers Would not get paid if the $2.3 million request wasn't approved immediately. Harris assured them the workers had been paid and that the office would not shut down any time soon without the emergency appropriation.

Reporter Mike Salinero can be reached at (813) 259-8303.

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