The University of West Florida Board of Trustees selected Dr. Martha Saunders as its next president, by a 9-4 vote.
Before the Board voted by paper ballot, the members spoke about the process and the finalists. Several talked about the “nastiness” of the process, referring to the negative criticism that State Sen. Don Gaetz received.
Mort O’Sullivan, who chaired the search committee, was critical of the Faculty Senate voting on the UWF presidency before the four finalists visited the campus to meet the facility, staff and community.
Others talked about how some have not come forward out of fear of retribution.
Trustee Suzanne Lewis said that she was called yesterday by the consultant and asked to rank her choices. She didn’t say who was on the other side on the line, but Lewis said it caught her off guard and disturbed her.
Trustee Greg Britton, whom many considered a vote of Gaetz, said that he would vote for Dr. Martha Saunders, who has led UWF operations and academics for the past few years as Executive VP and Provost. Trustee Dave Cleveland described Saunders as the “ideal candidate.”
Chairman Lewis Bear was upset that there had been a widespread campaign to assassinate the character of a candidate (meaning, but not saying Don Gaetz).
“What are we teaching our children? Are we teaching them to be honest and forthright? Or are we teaching them to be sneaky and dishonest,” said Bear. “We’ve done an injustice to youth by spreading false rumors.”