The Escambia Children’s Trust is down to only two DeSantis appointees after Board Treasurer Tori Woods resigned last week.
- Job-related designees fill the remaining five board positions: Escambia School Superintendent Keith Leonard, County Commissioner Lumon May, School Board member David Williams, DCF Family Well-Being Director Tina Cain, and Circuit Judge Tom Williams.
At the Trust board meeting on Tuesday, June 9, Executive Director Lindsey Cannon told the board, “Ms. Woods has resigned her position on the board as of last week. So we have met with her subsequently since that resignation to ensure there weren’t any changes and certainly to understand she has served well past her appointed term, and we really appreciate that. So I think it’s time for her to be with her family.”
New Judge
Cannon also informed the board that Judge Williams would rotate off the board this month and would be replaced by Circuit Judge Coleman Lee Robinson.
DeSantis’ Failure to Appoint Replacements
The two remaining community representatives are Chair Dr. Rex Northup and Stephanie White, who have served since March 2021, well past their terms. Rev. Lonnie Wesley and David Peaden were also appointed, along with Woods, at the same time.
- The board elected Cain to serve as treasurer for the remainder of 2026.
Gov. DeSantis has failed to appoint their replacements despite the Board of County Commissioners sending him several lists of qualified volunteers.
Gratitude for Service
Dr. Northrup thanked Woods, who was in the audience, for her service. “She has been a tremendous support not only to the activities of the board, but to me individually with her thoroughness and knowledge of everything from grant applications to funding issues and otherwise. Tori, I wish you the best in your future endeavors and thank you for all your contributions to the board to this point.”
- Vice Chair White added, “I would like to echo that. I’ve got to know Tori back in 2020 when we both joined the board…Sometimes it was hard, but she has amazed me with her ability to be thorough and to really ask hard questions, and I appreciate that about her. So we’re going to need someone who can replace you who can ask the hard questions and really dig in. So thank you.”