The Pensacola News Journal caught up on Escambia Children’s Trust’s appointment problem.
- The board has one vacancy, Rev. Lonnie Wesley, and one member who has been voting on issues for more than a year after his term expired, Dr. Rex Northrup. Three more members’ terms expired in December – David Peaden, Stephanie White and Tori Woods.
Two weeks ago, the ECT board voted to ask Attorney General Ashley Moody’s office on the office of appointment’s position that board members can stay on the board indefinitely until Gov. Ron DeSantis decides who he wants on the board.
Executive Director Lindsey Cannon said similar boards are having trouble with quorums as board members submit resignations, like Rev. Wesley, rather than linger on the board.
Same Old Problem: Sun-Sentinel columnist Steve Bousquet wrote about DeSantis’ “insane foot-dragging” on appointments in May 2021 – over three years ago. He was upset about the governor not making appointments to the state elections commission – “Making appointments is a fundamental duty of any governor.”
- Gov. Rick Scott was also slow, taking over a year to fill some positions.
The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners is seeking applications from county residents to be nominated for gubernatorial appointment to the Escambia Children’s Trust. To be considered, applicants must submit the completed Escambia Children’s Trust application and questionnaire for gubernatorial appointments with an optional resume by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 4.
Resumes and both applications should be submitted via email to boardapply@myescambia.com or mailed to:
Jose Gochez, Program Manager
Escambia County Board of County Commissioners
221 Palafox Place, Suite 420
Pensacola, FL 32502
Link to Appointments Helpful Hints and FAQ – here.
Who is in charge of the appointments office? Gov. DeSantis doesn’t list the head on his “Meet the Staff” page. So much for transparency.
In light of the recent FDEP announcement that it wanted to build golf courses and resort lodges at state parks, this breaking news story is getting attention.
DeSantis has already sold state land to a golf course developer.
The Tampa Bay Times reports the Florida Cabinet approved a transfer of 324 acres of state forest to a Hernando County golf course company, Cabot Citrus OpCo LLC, in June.
Cabot Citrus OpCo LLC owns a luxury golf resort in Brooksville adjacent to the Withlacoochee State Forest parcel.
Gov. Ron DeSantis, Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, Attorney General Ashley Moody, and Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, acting as the Florida Cabinet, approved the swap of 324 acres of the Withlacoochee State Forest on June 12 after no discussion.
The move allowed the state to determine that the land was “no longer needed for conservation purposes.”
Read more.