Did Key Colony Beach Really Refuse to Hold the Referendum?
You be the judge.
Laurie Swanson delivered 264 petitions boxed, taped closed, signed on the tape, and labeled with the number of petitions in the box to the city office on September 13, well ahead of the deadline. Wow!
Supervisor of Elections Joyce Griffin told Laurie that just 164 petitions were needed to meet the 25% requirement in the ordinance.
The city of Key Colony Beach had already decided to trample the will of the people. A letter from the city was waiting at the clerk's office. Here's the most important quote from the letter:
"...Regardless of the number of verified petition cards or blanks returned, and the fact that the city will work with Ms. Griffin to verify and to further validate the authenticity of signatures as required by Section 2-16, the city will not be further processing your referendum petition...
"The submitted petition will not be placed on a future agenda, the city will not be holding a referendum vote of the electors, and it shall not suspend any action on the matter..."
Sincerely,
Dave Turner, City AdministratorLaurie signed the City affidavit that each signature on each petition was genuine and that all the pages were filed together as one complete "instrument," i.e. the referendum petition.
The City refused to sign Laurie's delivery receipt acknowledging that the referendum petition is submitted in accordance with Florida Statutes and city ordinances, the date it was issued, and that it is signed by at least 25% of the city voters.
The Key Colony Beach City Clerk delivered a second letter denying the referendum. That letter included the petition audit from the Monroe County Supervisor of Elections.
Read both letters and the certification of signatures here.
What has actually happened to Key Colony Beach? This next page summarizes the high points of city official malfeasance.