Though there is precedent for removing elected officials who haven’t been criminally charged including controversial, high-profile suspensions of two successive Broward supervisors of elections it had been highly unusual. That is, until Ron DeSantis became governor.
Gov. Ron DeSantis has pursued an expansive view of his executive authority, ordering high-profile removals of local elected officials who haven’t been charged with crimes. Governors routinely have used their power under the Florida Constitution to suspend elected officials from office – when they’ve been charged with crimes. Though there is precedent for the DeSantis approach of removing elected officials who haven’t been criminally charged, it had been highly unusual. A review of state records shows a change when DeSantis took office in January 2019.