Jada Williams Falls Short in Run to Regain Madison Elections Post

Former Madison County Supervisor of Elections Jada Woods Williams lost her battle Tuesday to defy an executive order from Gov. Rick Scott that had removed her from office.

By just 34 votes, Democrats in Madison County on Tuesday opted for Amy Kendrick as their candidate to challenge incumbent Thomas Tommy Hardee in November.

Gov. Rick Scott appointed Hardee to replace Williams, who had been removed from her post by the governor after the Florida Department of Law Enforcement announced her arrest Nov. 1, 2011, in connection with alleged voter fraud.

Williams, first elected to the countywide office in 2006, was one of eight --including Madison County School Board member Abra Hill Tina Johnson --charged in connection with alleged voter fraud that allowed Johnson to win a runoff election last year.

Williams, 34, was charged with 17 counts of neglect for allegedly allowing absentee ballots to be illegally distributed.