District Court of Appeal of Florida

In a case arising from Congressman Mark Foley's resignation from office and withdrawal as a candidate, a grant of injunctive relief to officials and the Florida Democratic Party preventing the publishing of certain notices by election officials regarding a substitute candidate is affirmed in part, and reversed in part where: 1) the statutory scheme supports the interpretation of the Secretary of State that an easily understandable, facially neutral and concisely stated notice of fact may be provided to the voters to ensure an informed electorate; 2) no statute prohibits such limited explanatory material as long as it meets certain statutory impartiality requirements; and 3) one e-mail notice failed to meet those impartiality requirements, but another notice was compliant.

Appellate Information

• Decided 10/27/2006
• Published 10/30/2006

Judges

• WOLF, J.

Court

• District Court of Appeal of Florida

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• Peter Antonacci, Andy V. Bardos, and Allen C. Winsor of Gray Robinson, PA, Tallahassee, for Appellant Sue M. Cobb;  Robert H. Fernandez, Bill L. Bryant, Jr., and Mia L. McKown of Akerman Senterfitt, Miami, for Intervenor Joseph Negron.


• For Appellees:
  
• Mark Herron and Robert J. Telfer III of Messer, Caparello & Self, P.A., Tallahassee, Stephen F. Rosenthal, Miami, David M. Buckner, Miami, Richard B. Rosenthal of Law Offices of Richard B. Rosenthal, P.A., Miami, and Charles H. Lichtman of Berger Singerman, Ft. Lauderdale, for Appellees Karen Thurman and Florida Democratic Party;  Ronald A. Labasky of Young Van Assenderp, P.A., Tallahassee, for Appellees Arthur Anderson, Vicki Davis, Gwen Chandler, Joe Campbell, Lucretia A. Strickland, and Mac V. Horton;  no appearance for Appellees Gertrude Walker and Holly Whiddon.