Former Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Susan Marie Bucher/photo courtesy of the Florida House of Representatives

Senate leaders from both sides of the aisle disputed former Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Susan Bucher's contention she wouldn't receive a fair hearing in the Republican-dominated Senate if she challenged her removal from office.

On Wednesday, Senate President Bill Galvano said hearings by his chamber on suspensions handed down by Gov. Ron DeSantis are a check between the legislative and executive branches.

“We don't have these suspensions come to us with a preconceived disposition,” said Galvano, who served in the state House with Bucher before he was elected to the Senate.

“I have respect for her. We worked on many issues together,” Galvano added of Bucher. “So, I was, frankly, surprised she did not believe due process would prevail.”

Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Audrey Gibson, a Jacksonville Democrat who also served in the House with Bucher, said the fates of elected officials should be left to voters, rather than DeSantis issuing suspensions.

But Gibson added her support for the Senate hearing process.

“I believe the [Senate] body would be fair, I don't know why it wouldn't be,” Gibson said. “It's going to a special master first. Then the decision would be made on the facts.”

Bucher opted to resign Jan. 28 after being suspended by DeSantis following troubled recounts in the November elections.

“The process established in Florida law would require that I go before a handpicked state Senate committee with the governor's lawyers as the prosecutors,” Bucher wrote in her resignation letter. “This is my only option for due process. The law does not provide for guidelines or rules. Prior to my service as your supervisor, I was a very vocal member of the House minority party in Tallahassee. As such, I do not believe I can receive a fair hearing before a very partisan Senate.”

Galvano announced recently that former state Rep. Dudley Goodlette, a Collier County Republican, will serve as special master in an appeal by suspended Okaloosa County Superintendent of Schools Mary Beth Jackson. He also said Goodlette would act as a special master if the Senate received appeals from Bucher and suspended Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel.

Jim Turner reports for the News Service of Florida.