Gov. Scott just suspended Scott Maddox after indictment. What happens to his commission seat?

Tallahassee Democrat

During Wednesday's City Commission meeting at City Hall, Commissioner Scott Maddox moved that all commissioners make their emails related to city business from the past five years publicly available on the COT website. Though the motion did not receive a second, commissioners agreed to discuss the matter further at their next meeting.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott has suspended Tallahassee City Commissioner Scott Maddox.

Scott has a track record of quickly ousting public officials removed as soon as they are charged with a crime.

"It is in the best interest of the residents of the city of Tallahassee, and the citizens of the state of Florida that Scott Maddox be immediately suspended from the public office which he now holds," Scott said in the executive order.

The indictment of Maddox on 44 federal counts of racketeering, extortion and fraud sets the wheels in motion for a replacement process laid out in the city's charter.

The City Commission now has 20 working days to appoint a successor to fill out the remainder of Maddox's term. If they cannot choose a replacement within that window, the governor could choose a replacement.

Hours after Scott suspended Maddox, city officials invited applications to fill his vacant seat. Registered voters who live within the city limits can apply to fill the commission seat on an interim basis by submitting a resume and cover letter for consideration.

Surrounded by City Commissioners, Mayor John Dailey gives details on how the city will fill the vacancy of seat one in the City Commission after the suspension of Scott Maddox after he was indicted on federal charges Monday, Dec. 12, 2018.

Mayor John Dailey held a news conference Wednesday afternoon to outline the procedure for replacing Maddox. Seat 1 must be temporarily filled, with the selected candidate serving either through the remainder of the seat's term– Nov. 16, 2020 – or until such time as Maddox is able to return to service if he is cleared of criminal charges.

"We are here because we’re turning a page and it’s a bright day in Tallahassee moving forward," Dailey said. "it is our responsibility as the leaders of the city of Tallahassee to prepare for future, to be able to turn the next page, write the next chapter and that is exactly what we are going to do."

Surrounded by the other three commissioners and other city officials, Dailey started the press conference by offering condolences for Maddox and his family.

"Our heart does go out to Commissioner Maddox and his family during this difficult time," he said. "We truly believe in a judicial process where you are innocent until proven guilty."

Interested candidates have until 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 22 to turn in their applications. City Hall will be open to facilitate the process, officials said.

What happens next is spelled out in the city's charter, which was amended in 2009, shortly before the commission appointed Gil Ziffer to finish out the term of Allan Katz, who resigned early when he was nominated as ambassador to Portugal.

"I am intimately familiar with the process," Ziffer said.

The latest news

Ziffer went on to win election in 2010 and re-election in 2014. Rather than seek a third term this year, Ziffer decided to step down from the city commission.

Sitting commissioners will pick their new colleague. Each commissioner has a chance to review the applicants and submit their top three candidates to the treasurer-clerk by noon on Wednesday, Dec. 26.

The treasurer-clerk will then tabulate the rankings. Each candidate will receive one point for each time they are listed. The five candidates with the highest point totals (and tie scorers, if any) will be short-listed for consideration. The city treasurer-clerk will publish the shortlist by 5 p.m. that day. The City Commission will hold a special meeting in City Hall at 4 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 31 to fill the vacant seat. At that meeting, the top five candidates will get to give a short speech explaining why they are best qualified to serve. Public comment will be also heard.

The schedule doesn't leave a lot of time for the commission to find a suitable candidate, Ziffer said, a task made even more difficult because it's occurring during the holiday season when everyone is traveling.

The appointment process at a glance

Under city policy, applicants have to submit resumes and cover letters to the Treasurer-Clerk's Office by email, post, fax or hand-delivery by 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 22. By noon Dec. 26, each commissioner would submit names of their top three candidates from the pool of applicants to the Treasurer-Clerk’s Office, which would create a short list of five individuals. A special meeting will be held Dec. 31 to appoint a commissioner.

Staff writer Ashley White contributed to this report.