New UWF Trustees face Florida Senate on Wednesday

I'm your huckleberry

On Wednesday, March 26, at 3:30 p.m., the Senate Appropriations Committee on Higher Education will consider the following nominees for the University of West Florida Board of Trustees: Gates Garcia, Ashley Ross, Rachel Moya, and Rebecca Matthews and Adam Kissel.

The hearing is the first stop for nominees, and whether they are recommended or not recommended by the Higher Ed committee, they still go to the Ethics and Elections, chaired by Sen. Don Gaetz.

MIA: Gov. Ron DeSantis has not submitted his three other appointees: UWF Trustee Chairman Scott Yenor, Paul Bailey (An attorney at Welton Law Firm in Crestview and an adjunct professor at Pensacola Christian College) and Chris Young (founder and Senior Partner at Perry & Young Law Firm -Bay County, Marianna and Tallahassee offices, Chief Operating Officer for Adcock Bros, Inc. and is owner and President of Adcock Transport and Adcock Direct).

The governor’s office has not fulfilled our January public record request for the applications of the new Trustees. We received those of Ross, Moya and Matthews from the state Board of Governors last month. Sen. Gaetz yesterday gave the Inweekly applications for Garcia and Kissel.

ADAM KISSEL

Kissel gave as his employer’s address the Washington, D.C. office of the Heritage Foundation. He wrote that Sira Terjeson referred him to apply to be considered for appointment to this board, with note “for boards generally,” Terjeson is the Associate Dean for Research & External Relations at Florida Atlantic University (FAU) College of Business.

Kissel wrote: “I strongly support the Governor’s reforms to higher education and overall approach to policy. New College’s transformation is an excellent example (of course, each college is unique). Stop WOKE and other anti-DEI efforts are key even though a college’s mission & operation are far broader.”

His application to be considered is dated Jan. 10, 2025. Read Kissel, Adam 2025-3050.

GATES GARCIA

Gates Garcia is the president and CEO of Pinehill Capital Partners in the Tampa area. His wife Kelly is on the State Board of Education.

Under experience, he wrote: “I am a strong advocate for classical education with a focus on civics and virtue on behalf of Florida taxpayers. Through my role as a Director of my family’s foundation board, I have a decade-long history of supporting Conservative organizations and causes within the state of Florida and nationally.”

Under awards, he lists the 2024 Claremont Institute Lincoln Fellow. I have reported on Yenor’s ties to Claremont.

Why he wants to a UWF trustee: “I have witnessed the Governor’s track record in making FL the most attractive state for education policy and I want to continue to advance this mission. My values align with the Governor’s policies.”

Garcia said no one referred him to apply.

His application to be considered is dated Jan. 22, 2025. Read Garcia, R. Gates 2025-3050

RED FLAG

Both Kissel and Garcia’s applications are dated AFTER Desantis announced their appointments. He announced the appointments on Jan. 6, 2025.

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Daily Outtakes: New Trustees face Florida Senate on Wednesday

ADAM KISSEL

GATES GARCIA

RED FLAG

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