Salzman thanks DeSantis for ‘exceptional appointment’ of Diaz

No The Pensacola News Journal has posted a guest viewpoint from State Rep. Michelle Salzman, titled “Manny Diaz will lead UWF into a new era of excellence.” There are few bandwagons that the Cantonment lawmaker avoids, but what’s odd about this one is the gratitude she gives to Gov. Ron DeSantis.

• She writes, “I wholeheartedly commend Governor Ron DeSantis for his exceptional appointment of Manny Diaz, Jr., as UWF’s next president.”

However, it was the University of West Florida Board of Trustees who selected Florida Education Commissioner Manny Diaz as the interim president, not Gov. DeSantis, and the State Board of Education will then have to approve the appointment.

Oops, it looks like Salzman has once again said the quiet part aloud.

• We have all suspected Gov. DeSantis’s office had orchestrated putting Diaz in charge of UWF, though Board Chair Rebecca Matthews has dodged answering any direct questions about her board appointment, her vote for Scott Yenor to be board chair and with whom she discussed making Diaz her sole recommendation for interim president.

This is the exchange between Matthews and fellow Trustee Alonzie Scott:

Trustee Scott: Who specifically did you talk to determine that this was the best candidate to bring to for the board?

• Chair Matthews: Many folks. Folks in the community, folks in the board of Governors, folks in the administration, you name it.

Trustee Scott: Can you provide any specific names of people you spoke to?

• Chair Matthews: I don’t know that I have to run through that list with you today.

Trustee Scott: You don’t have to. I’m just asking. As a representative on the board, can you provide the names of people you spoke to?

• Chair Matthews: The chancellor of the Board of Governors and many others in the community, I’ve talked with who are from Pensacola. So I don’t feel as if I need to run through that list today to be candid with you. So, thank you for your comments. Would you like to give the remaining comments?

Trustee Scott: I will review my remaining comments, but I also think, as a part of transparency, we should be able to say I spoke to specific people, as you did with the chancellor. We pretty much know who that individual is, but we have no idea who the others are. But I’ll move on to my next comment.

• Chair Matthews: Thank you.

Trustee Scott: One of the things I’m always curious about when we select any position is that there’s a criteria for selecting them. I was wondering what was the criteria that you used? Would it be something like show relevant leadership experience? Would it be they have a faculty member background or would they’re a provost or dean? Did they have any administrative roles in the university? Have they been a chief executive officer? Have they had proven educational hiring experience in different university running areas? Or did we just simply choose the individual because they have political contacts? I would love for you to provide or describe more details of how that process worked in your head.

• Chair Matthews: I think you can listen to the remarks that I just gave and get a clear indication of what I took into consideration prior to bringing many Diaz forward for the interim president consideration.

Trustee Scott: I still don’t think you answered my question, that’s why I’m repeating it. And if I thought you answered it, I would not even think of continuing to labor with everyone else’s time on this meeting. I realize the board is going to do what it wants to do. I’m just trying to get clarity, and I’m not clear at this point.

• Chair Matthews: Okay. Well, I would suggest, again, listen to the comments that I just provided. I went through a lengthy description of why I believe he would be a good candidate here and that is clear enough

The Fiz Was In

Salzman repeats DeSantis’ involvement in her closing paragraph: “Governor DeSantis’ appointment of Manny Diaz signals a bright future for UWF and the Panhandle. “

She validates that the fix was in.