FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – A long-term employee of the Broward Clerk of the Court’s office was fired because she’s planning to run for office against her boss, she told Local 10 News.
Annette Daniels calls it retaliation and her attorney calls it a misuse of power.
Daniels’ attorney says their next option is to file a state ethics complaint against Broward Clerk of Courts Brenda Forman.
“This year would make 19 years,” Daniels said of her employment.
In a photo taken back in April 2018, when Daniels was selected as Clerk of the Month, a caption called her a model employee who was always willing to go the extra mile.
“Daniels is dedicated to providing the citizens of Broward County with excellent customer service and is truly an asset to the organization,” the caption read.
But last month, out of the blue, she was terminated.
“I couldn’t believe it -- 19 years and you messing with me for nothing,” Daniels said. “She’s angry. She’s angry because I’m running against her.”
Daniels claims she was fired on April 3, hours after she filed to run against her boss for the clerk’s job.
According to a termination email sent to Daniels, “It is imperative that we uphold the principles outlined in the Ethics HR Policy 49. Integrity, trust and loyalty that are essential to the functioning of our organization. The decision to run is in direct conflict with the terms of your signed commission and oath deputizing you with authority to act on Clerk Forman’s behalf.”
“If I did something wrong, then yeah,” Daniels said. “If I did something wrong and you have something on me, then yes. She has nothing on me. Nothing on me. I’m clean.”
Daniels has only filed to run but has not qualified yet.
Documents need to be turned in and fees paid to actually qualify to run for the position, but that doesn’t happen until June.
So why was Daniels fired last month?
State law does say after Daniels officially qualifies in June, she has 10 days to resign.
But being fired months before qualifying is very different from resigning on your own.
Daniels has since lawyered up.
Attorney David Comras said she’s lost benefits, there are pension issues and she’s entitled to keep working until she’s legally qualified to run.
“I find it to be egregious. This has been her career,” he said. “It’s a government official saying you are running against me, so therefore I am terminating you from your position of employment, your ability to earn money. As long as these things are not impeding your performance at your employment, it’s a non-issue. As long as she’s not campaigning while on the job, this is not an issue.”
And if, for some reason, Daniels doesn’t qualify to run, now she can’t get her job back.
Forman denied Local 10 News’ request for an on-camera interview. We asked if Forman would at least answer questions on the phone, and her Chief Operating Officer Dian Diaz said, “No way! No how!”
Forman was elected to a second term in 2020 and has been in the spotlight before. The most notable occasion was back in 2020 when she posted a 40-minute Facebook rant, claiming God told her to call out her then-opponents, accusing one of being a drunk.
As far as Daniels, she said the picture honoring her was removed from the clerk’s social media: Taken down, but she won’t be.
“I have the training to run for the Broward County Clerk of the Courts. I’m still running for the Broward County Clerk of the Courts,” she said.
Asked if Forman’s action will stop her, she quickly replied, “No. No sir.”