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Keep Latimer on elections job

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 11, 2009

At least 22 people have applied to be appointed Hillsborough elections supervisor, and more applications may be coming.

Gov. Charlie Crist at this point plans to interview six of the candidates, but that could change. He has not set a deadline for accepting applications. The governor won't lack for smart individuals to choose from when he decides who should replace Phyllis Busansky, who died suddenly last month.

But in our editorial on her death we recommended Craig Latimer, her chief of staff, for the job, and none of the others now seeking the appointment has caused us to change our view.

Latimer will provide the stability, competence and direction sorely needed at an office that has endured so much turmoil in recent years.

Latimer worked closely with Busansky to develop a game plan for improving performance and morale in an operation that had been plagued by mismanagement, overspending and secrecy under prior Supervisor Buddy Johnson.

Busansky was counting on Latimer, a former Hillsborough Sheriff's Office major and skillful administrator, to be her point person for implementing reforms. During Busansky's six months on the job, they quickly brought transparency and accountability to the office.

The operation doesn't need more tumult.

Thanks to Johnson's mistakes, the office has been subjected to three audits and an FBI investigation. Election Day blunders caused widespread public ridicule. Staff turnover was frequent under Johnson.

And now the office has suffered the traumatic loss of a dynamic leader, who had quickly revived the office's spirits.

Latimer, who is supervising the office until Crist names Busansky's replacement, would complete the revival Busansky promised during her successful campaign last year.

There is no doubt he can handle the task.

He was the one Busansky assigned to deal with the $2.4 million deficit she inherited. He prepared the budget and found extensive savings. He chaired a technology committee that identified the causes of the delays in last year's elections and recommended remedies that are now being enacted.

He negotiated a $500,000 credit with Premier Election Solutions, Inc., the provider of optical scan voting equipment.

Politics is the only reason Crist could have for not wanting Latimer. He is a registered Democrat, though hardly a political activist. He is endorsed by many Republicans.

Crist should remember what happened when Gov. Jeb Bush let partisan politics determine his choice to replace Pam Iorio, who resigned as supervisor to run for Tampa mayor.

Rather than worrying about qualifications, Bush went with Johnson, a genial former GOP lawmaker popular in East Hillsborough. The selection turned out to be a monumental blunder that ultimately did the Republican Party no favors.

In any event, party affiliation should not be a consideration for a post that should be nonpartisan. Latimer is executing the rebuilding job needed at the elections office. Crist should keep Latimer on the job and the office on the mend.

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