1. Brenda Calhoun Snipes was an American public official who was the Supervisor of Elections for Broward County, Florida.
22 Facts About Brenda Snipes
1. 2.
Brenda Snipes was appointed by Governor Jeb Bush in 2003.
3.
On November 30,2018, in the aftermath of the controversial 2018 Florida elections, Snipes was removed from office by Governor Rick Scott.
4.
Brenda Snipes held a press conference the following day, in which she stated that she rescinds her resignation and plans to fight her suspension.
5.
On January 18,2019, Governor Ron DeSantis voided his predecessor's suspension of Brenda Snipes and accepted her initial resignation, effective January 4,2019.
6.
Brenda Snipes was born in Talladega, Alabama, on October 24,1943.
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Brenda Snipes majored in modern foreign languages at Talladega College.
8.
Brenda Snipes moved to Florida in 1964 with her husband, Walter Snipes Jr.
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Brenda Snipes graduated with a master's degree in curriculum and instruction for adults from Florida Atlantic University, and was awarded a doctorate in educational leadership from Nova Southeastern University.
10.
In 1964, Brenda Snipes started her career as a teacher at Blanche Ely High School in Pompano Beach, Florida, and eventually became principal of Robert Markham Elementary School, in Pompano Beach.
11.
On November 20,2003, Brenda Snipes was appointed supervisor of elections for Broward County by Governor Jeb Bush to take over from her predecessor, Miriam Oliphant, after Oliphant was removed from office for irregularities and fraud in the handling of ballots in the 2000 United States presidential election in that county.
12.
Brenda Snipes was re-elected to the position in 2004,2008,2012, and 2016.
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Brenda Snipes went on to win the general election and retain her seat as the Representative for the 23rd District.
14.
Brenda Snipes made a third request under Florida's Public Records Act in March 2017.
15.
That same month, Canova filed a lawsuit asking the courts to order Brenda Snipes to allow him to examine the ballots.
16.
On September 1,2017, while litigation was ongoing, Brenda Snipes signed an order authorizing the destruction of 688 boxes containing the ballots.
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The judge ruled that Brenda Snipes had illegally destroyed the ballots and that Canova be awarded attorney's fees.
18.
Brenda Snipes' attorney said a vendor had made and retained a digital copy of every ballot cast in the race and that the destruction of the ballots was neither intentional nor illegal.
19.
Brenda Snipes' assistant told a reporter that she was not aware of any complaints.
20.
On November 18,2018, Brenda Snipes submitted her resignation, to be effective January 4,2019, after Senator Bill Nelson conceded the Senate race the day before.
21.
Brenda Snipes died in Pembroke Park, Florida, on November 2,2023, at the age of 80.
22.
Brenda Snipes was survived by her husband Walter, her daughter Derrice Snipes-Hakeem, two grandchildren, and two sons-in-law.