Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has suspended Anthony DeFillipo, the North Miami Beach mayor who prosecutors say moved to Broward but voted illegally in Miami-Dade.
Last week DeFillipo was charged with three election violations of an unqualified elector willfully voting, a third-degree felony, after prosecutors said he voted in a county where he doesn’t live.
David Jeannot, the city’s spokesman, said it was still unclear Tuesday if DeFillipo’s seat would be filled by special election or appointment.
He announced Monday’s suspension in an email, saying “the circumstances surrounding the former Mayor is not a reflection of the City staff or the rest of the City Commission who work tirelessly, day in and day out to make NMB a wonderful place to live, work, and play.”
Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle said investigators tracked DeFillipo’s cellphone locations, which shows him leaving his Davie home, then driving to vote in Miami-Dade, and returning back to Davie later each day on the days he voted.
His arraignment is scheduled for June 30. DeFillipo’s attorney, Michael Pizzi, has said the allegations against his client “are totally unfounded.”
Lisa J. Huriash can be reached at lhuriash@sunsentinel.com. Follow on Twitter @LisaHuriash
