May 9, 2001

Palm Beach Elections Head No Longer Democratic Party Member

The Associated Press

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) - Theresa LePore dropped the Democratic Party affiliation from her voter registration, saying she was disappointed with the way the party treated her during November's disputed presidential election.

Although she said the main reason she made the move was to show that her job as Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections was nonpartisan, she said Tuesday that she didn't like Democrats criticizing her for the county's now-infamous "butterfly ballot," which they say was so confusing it cost Al Gore thousands of votes.

Gore still carried heavily Democratic Palm Beach in the Nov. 7 election.

"I think it's a good thing she became an independent," said county Democratic Party executive director Cathy Dubin. "We have not publicly stated we were against her because she is one of ours, but there are many people in the party still angry. ... I think she did owe an apology, but it's time to move on."

LePore, who made the affiliation change Monday, said she wanted the Legislature's election reform package to include a provision that required all election supervisors to drop their party allegiances. The new measure, which doesn't include such a provision, will be signed by Gov. Jeb Bush on Wednesday during ceremonies in West Palm Beach and DeLand.

LePore last changed party affiliations in 1996, when she joined the Democrats during her run for the supervisor of elections office. She was a registered Republican from 1973 to 1978, when she became an independent.

AP-ES-05-09-01 0634EDT

-- Anonymous, May 10, 2001