Gov. DeSantis’ bloc rejected the University of West Florida’s longest-serving trustee, Dick Baker, for chair and vice chair of the UWF Board of Trustees. Baker was first appointed by Gov. Rick Scott in 2016 and repeated in 2021 by DeSantis.
Instead, the DeSantis clique chose a Boise State professor as chair and a health management services vice president as vice chair.
WHAT THIS MATTERS: The elections are a clear signal that the governor has taken control of the University of West Florida like he did at New College of Florida in 2023.
BACKGROUND: Gov. Jeb Bush appointed the first University of West Florida Board of Trustees in June 2001. Before, all universities were governed by a State Board of Regents. Lawmakers and the public were told that the board would be comprised mostly of local people who would, for the first time, direct local university operations.
Over the past two decades, the UWF Board of Trustee positions have been highly coveted by local leaders. Trustees have included Lewis Bear Jr., Honor Bell, Pam Bilbrey, Travis Bowden, Dave Cleveland, Dr. Lornetta Epps, Nancy Fetterman, Sharon Hess Herrick, Lutimothy May, Collier Merrill, Susan O’Connor, Mort O’Sullivan, Jayprakash S. Patel, Bentina Terry, Garrett Walton, Stephanie White and J.T. Young.
WHO IS DICK BAKER?
Baker is a worthy successor to those local community leaders.
Trustee Susan James, UWF Faculty Senate president, supported Baker.
“The cloud of controversy that we now have over us, I’m concerned about. I want us all to work together. We have an absolutely amazing university that has excelled in so many ways,” she said. “I wish you would consider making it easier for all of us with onboarding by having Trustee Baker as our chair.”
Baker has been involved in residential subdivision development, banking, economic development and nonprofits in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties for decades. In 1998, the Pensacola Chamber selected him for the PACE Community Leader of the Year award.
Career: Northwest Florida Mortgage Co. founder, Southern American Mortgage Co. (partner with Buzz Ritchie), Heron’s Forest Development Co. vice president and RGB Development co-founder, and Blue Wahoos human resources manager.
Economic Development: Committee of 100 chair, TEAM Santa Rosa treasurer, Chamber treasurer and vice president of tourism, Florida’s Western Gate Economic Development Council chair, Envision EscaRosa, Community Maritime Park Associates board member (2006-2012), and University of West Floridia Business, Inc.
Nonprofits: Pensacola Junior College Board of Trustees, Sacred Heart Health Systems board, Gulf Coast Kid’s House, ARC Gateway, Rebuild Northwest Florida Five Flags Rotary, Maritime Museum Committee, Pensacola Home Builders Association, IHMC Board and UWF Foundation.
Photo by Heather Ford on Unsplash
