Nov 20, 2009 12:38 am US/Eastern
Michelle Spence-Jones Plans On Regaining Her Seat
Special Election Is Set For January 12th
Spence-Jones Is Accused Of Using Subsidy Money For Her Own Business
"For me not to run would be an admission of guilt," she said.
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
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Suspended Commissioner Michelle Spence-Jones says she is running to be re-elected to the post she was removed from in the Miami Commission.
CBS
Michelle Spence-Jones held a rally Thursday evening to announce that she will run to regain the commission seat she's been suspended from by Governor Charlie Crist.
Standing behind a podium, microphone in hand, Spence-Jones was flanked by dozens of supporters holding signs that said "Vote for #95." She told District 5 constituents that she is doing so because she is innocent.
"For me not to run would be an admission of guilt," Spence-Jones told the crowd.
Governor Charlie Crist had suspended her last week after the state attorney's office accused her of diverting public subsidy money to private businesses run by her.
"When you're not guilty, when you're not afraid, when you know you haven't done any wrong, I just consider this a stumble in the road," said Spence-Jones.
"They're here because they want us to continue everything that has been done," Spence-Jones said of the crowd that joined her Thursday.
Spence-Jones is running in the January 12th special election set by the Miami Commission after it consulted with the Governor's office to find her replacement. The governor decided he was not appointing a replacement, and it was up to them to pick a substitute for the suspended commissioner while she stands trial.
But because the commission
didn't have a quorum, the time limit allowed for it to appoint someone expired--leaving commissioners no choice but to set up the special election.
Constituents of District 5 will get to pick her replacement.
However, the law doesn't prohibit Spence-Jones for running for her own seat again, despite being suspended.
S
pence-Jones was re-elected with 83% of the vote in early November before her suspension.
CBS4 News has learned that Jeff Torain will enter the race against Michelle Spence-Jones. He lost to her in the general election held Nov. 3rd.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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