On May 9, 1968, Citrus County residents opened their weekly Chronicle and were shocked at the headlines. The entire roster of Citrus County commissioners had been suspended by the governor that week and quickly replaced by his own slate of officials. Coincidentally, the removal was timed to occur on the day before the local primaries.
The Democratic Party had a lock on Florida’s elections since Reconstruction. The voters had not chosen a Republican governor since 1877. A rift within the Democratic party opened the door for a Republican, Claude R. Kirk Jr., to become governor in 1967. He had national ambitions and saw himself as a potential vice-presidential candidate in 1968. He initiated a “War on Crime and Corruption” in Florida to increase his visibility. He engaged his friend George Wackenhut’s security company to root out corruption across the state. Wackenhut agents fanned out across Florida as soon as Kirk was inaugurated. After some highly visible accusations in other counties, the Wackenhut agents descended upon Citrus County in May 1967. They immediately started to review public records to determine if there were any hints of corruption. The results of their audit would change Citrus County politics for years to come.
The auditors from Wackenhut’s company arrived in Citrus County and began reviewing public records. Their investigation led to the suspension of the Citrus County commissioners. The governor, Claude R. Kirk Jr., used his executive power to remove the commissioners and replace them with his own appointees. This move was seen as a significant intervention in local politics.
The incident was part of Governor Kirk’s broader effort to crack down on corruption in Florida. His actions had far-reaching implications for Citrus County and its residents. The local community was left to navigate the aftermath of the commissioners’ removal and the impact on their local government.
Originally reported by Citrus County Chronicle – Inverness
Sources: Citrus County Chronicle – Inverness
