FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Broward County's former elections supervisor is saying goodbye to voters after her legal battle with the state of Florida has ended.
Dr. Brenda Snipes spoke at a news conference Thursday morning in Fort Lauderdale, thanking the people of Broward County for allowing her to serve them through the years.
"It has been a great ride for me," Snipes said.
Snipes was suspended by former Gov. Rick Scott after she announced her intention to resign from office. She rescinded her resignation after Scott suspended her and filed a federal lawsuit against Scott and Senate President Bill Galvano seeking reinstatement.
Gov. Ron DeSantis, who took office earlier this month, signed an executive order Friday that he has accepted Snipes' resignation, thereby ending a costly legal battle with the state.
"I'm glad that we were able to finish with my dignity and my name having been restored," Snipes said. "Those are two things that cost no money, but most of us consider those as very valuable."
Her attorney, Burnadette Norris-Weeks, said the rescindment of Snipes' resignation "had more to do with wanting to make sure that there was due process to protect her reputation, which we were able to do."
Snipes said she was surprised by Scott's move to suspend her.
Scott, a Republican, was elected to the U.S. Senate after serving two terms as governor. Snipes is a Democrat.
Snipes had been Broward County's elections supervisor since 2003, but she was criticized for how long it took her office to count the results from the November election.
"I'm just going to be a person of leisure for a while and probably do some traveling and visit my granddaughters," Snipes said when asked what her future holds.