Tim Bobanic, Scott's IT director, appointed to replace outgoing Brevard elections chief
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday named Brevard County Supervisor of Elections Lori Scott's replacement as Scott prepares to resign at the end of this month.
Tim Bobanic, Scott's current director of information technology and election services, will be Brevard's new elections chief, according to a news release issued Tuesday by the governor's office.
"Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of Timothy Bobanic as Brevard County Supervisor of Elections. The appointment is effective October 1, 2022," the release said.
Read more: Brevard elections chief Lori Scott says she is resigning in surprise announcement
Bobanic has been IT director at the supervisor's office since 2013, according to the release. He was previously director of information technology for the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections.
In a statement, Bobanic told FLORIDA TODAY he was "honored" by the appointment.
"I look forward to continuing the legacy left by Lori Scott in conducting accurate, secure and transparent elections in Brevard County," Bobanic said.
Scott recommended Bobanic for the spot in her resignation letter to the governor, which she posted on Facebook alongside her resignation announcement earlier this month.
"Mr. Bobanic's 13? years of experience in Florida's elections, knowledge of the intricacies of running elections in Brevard and invaluable knowledge of our cybersecurity protocols, would allow for a seamless transition which I believe to be imperative as we head into the Nov. 8 General Election," Scott wrote in the letter dated Sept. 2.
Also: Supervisor of Elections Lori Scott denies that DeSantis or illness forced her resignation
Scott said her last day as supervisor of elections will be Sept. 30. Her retirement comes in the middle of this year's midterm election cycle, and halfway through her fourth term in office.
Under the Florida Constitution, the governor may appoint a replacement for any state or county elected office if an official resigns less than 28 months before the end of their term.
Scott has not publicly cited a specific reason behind the decision, but took to social media to deny rumors that her retirement was spurred by health concerns or pressure from the governor.
"Although this seems like a sudden decision, it is a conversation I’ve been having with my family for quite some time," Scott wrote in the Sept. 3 Facebook post.
Reactions to Bobanic's appointment began to roll in shortly after it was announced late Tuesday afternoon.
"Tim has always been professional in my interactions with him, and I'm sure he will do a great job," said Florida Rep. Randy Fine, R-Palm Bay.
Florida Rep. Tyler Sirois, R-Merritt Island, said he is "confident that Tim will do a good job" as supervisor of elections.
Sirois — who previously served for about four years as chief deputy for Scott — said the governor's office contacted him to get input on what he thought about Bobanic taking over for Scott, which Sirois said he felt was part of the normal vetting process.
In discussing Scott, Sirois said he is "grateful for her years of dedicated service in our community."
At least one member of the County Commission signaled his support for Bobanic's appointment.
"I want to wish him the best," County Commissioner John Tobia said of Bobanic, during the board report section of the county's budget meeting, which happened soon after the governor's announcement. "I know it is a tough time to come in, but I am sure he will do a great job with some big shoes to fill."
"I think the governor made the choice of the person he felt is the most qualified," Brevard Republican Executive Committee Chair Rick Lacey said. "I look forward to working with him, and congratulate him for getting appointed by the governor."
Scott's resignation comes amid a protracted battle with a faction of Brevard Republicans who have criticized what they claim were election irregularities in the 2020 election. The group has blamed Scott for what they say was a failure to maintain Brevard's voter rolls and for issues with the mail ballot verification process.
More: Supervisor of Elections Lori Scott pressured to 'fix' and publish voter registration rolls
The allegations have piggybacked on Donald Trump's unfounded claims of widespread voter fraud, which have gained renewed steam among many of Trump's supporters in recent months.
Former County Commission District 4 candidate Sandra Sullivan — who formally applied for the supervisor of elections appointment herself — has sided with Scott's critics. She said she would have preferred to see the governor fill the position with someone from outside Brevard County.
"I'm very uncomfortable with the continuation of the status quo in the supervisor of elections office, given that Lori Scott has not adequately addressed vulnerabilities with the vote-by-mail ballots that my team identified and brought to her attention,” Sullivan said,
Bobanic will be supervising a Nov. 8 election with a packed ballot. There will be statewide races for governor, U.S. senator, commissioner of agriculture and consumer services, attorney general and chief financial officer, as well as three proposed state constitutional amendments.
Locally, there are races for U.S. Congress, Florida Senate and House seats, county commissioners, Brevard School Board and Brevard County judge, as well as a number of municipal races.
There also will be six Brevard County charter amendments on the ballot, plus a proposed increase in the Brevard Public Schools millage rate, a proposal to extend the Environmentally Endangered Lands program and various municipal referendums.
The next scheduled election for the supervisor of elections position is Nov. 5, 2024, and the winner of that election would take office Jan. 7, 2025. The supervisor of elections position pays $153,242 a year.
FLORIDA TODAY reporter Ralph Chapoco contributed to this story.
Eric Rogers is a watchdog reporter for FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Rogers at 321-242-3717 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @EricRogersFT.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Gov. Ron DeSantis names Lori Scott's replacement for Brevard elections chief
