An election inspection team ordered by Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner is on the ground in Fort Pierce as the city mayor’s contest has spawned the second lawsuit that questions the general election results in St. Lucie County. The three-day audit by the state Division of Elections, spurred by state Rep. Gayle Harrell, R-Stuart, adds to a scene already dominated by U.S. Rep. Allen West, R-Palm Beach Gardens, disputing problems encountered during early voting by the county supervisor of elections office and further adds to Florida’s history of voting problems that have earned national scorn since 2000.
The West camp, which will get a two-hour hearing Friday before St. Lucie County Circuit Judge Dan Vaughn on its lawsuit seeking a full recount of all eight days of early voting, is also criticizing Democrat Patrick Murphy for attending freshman orientation this week in Washington, D.C.
“I think it is premature of him,” West’s campaign manager Tim Edson told reporters Wednesday.
“I understand he would like to move on and wrap this up, but for someone who claims to be a certified public accountant, you would expect him to be a little more concerned about the shifting numbers and inaccuracies of these numbers.”
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With protesters outside her office calling for a recount and her resignation, longtime St. Lucie County Supervisor of Elections Gertrude Walker admitted to Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers on Tuesday that “mistakes were made” Election Night as workers hastily uploaded results from the final three days of early voting.
Full Article: Gayle Harrell: St. Lucie County Elections ‘A Disaster’ | Sunshine State News.