Melissa Arnold

OKEECHOBEE — Okeechobee County employees Lisa Rodriguez and Faith Nielson were surprised to receive letters earlier this month letting them know their services were no longer needed in the office of the supervisor of elections.

According to Rodriguez, the letter was the first and only communication she has had with the Supervisor of Elections-elect Melissa Arnold since the day after the election, when Rodriguez was out on the corner to thank voters for voting for her. She noticed Arnold across the street and headed over to congratulate her, but Arnold crossed the street in the opposite direction. Following her, Rodriguez said. “Wow, I didn’t think I’d have to chase you down to congratulate you, but here I am!” Rodriguez then extended her hand but said Arnold did not take it.

“She turned her back to me, and said if I had any respect for her, I would not be out there. The next time I heard from her was the letter. I was a little confused by the letter, because she has no legal authority to dismiss me until after she takes office on Jan. 5, but the letter was dated Dec. 2.”

Rodriguez said she was disappointed and confused, because throughout her campaign, she told everyone who asked that if she lost, she would like to continue working in the office. “I love what I do,” she said. “What’s sad is that she is letting a lot of experience walk out the door.” Rodriguez said she will miss her job, but has found a new position and will be fine.

Nielson said she found it very confusing that Arnold sent the letter giving her an end date for her employment before Arnold even started working for the county.

“I believe my years of experience would have been a great asset to help the new supervisor of elections coming into the office. Our knowledge of all the processes and equipment would have created a successful elections office. It seems to me that the incoming supervisor would have wanted to keep and evaluate current employees based on their skills and work ethic instead of acting in retaliation for running against her for the same office. Christmastime certainly seems to be a difficult time to let a widow and a single woman go without a thought to the disruption in their lives, but I certainly have faith that God has a better plan for our futures,” she said.

Arnold declined to comment on her reason for sending the letters but said if anyone has any questions, they are welcome to contact her.

On Saturday, Dec. 26, Arnold posted a job listing on the official Okeechobee Supervisor of Elections-elect Facebook page. The post directs interested parties to visit Okeechobeevotes.com for job descriptions and applications.

Current Okeechobee Supervisor of Elections Diane Hagan did not seek re-election in 2020. Rodriguez, of “No Party Affililation” (NPA), and Nielson, a Republican, both employed by the Supervisor of Elections Office as deputy clerks, ran for the position. Also running were Arnold, a Republican; Donna V. Howard (NPA); and Republican Rodney Rucks. Arnold won the Republican primary and then defeated the two NPA (no party affiliation) candidates in the general election.