Gov. Ron DeSantis has a brand new job for the person who has led Walt Disney World’s authorities since his allies took it over — elections supervisor in Orange County, lengthy one in all Florida’s most dependable sources of Democratic votes.
Glen Gilzean was appointed Monday by the Republican governor to supervise voting in Florida’s fifth-largest county, the place greater than 1.4 million residents dwell among the many largest theme park resorts within the U.S. Simply final Could, Gilzean was chosen to be administrator of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight Committee after DeSantis’ allies took over the Disney World governing district.
Gilzean beforehand served as a DeSantis appointee on the Florida Commission on Ethics and was president and CEO of Central Florida City League.
The county’s longtime elections supervisor Invoice Cowles retired in January, a few yr earlier than his time period was up. Cowles, a Democrat, was first elected in 1996 to the job, which oversees elections in Orlando and surrounding communities.
Gilzean didn’t reply to an emailed inquiry.
Responding to an electronic mail, the district’s workplace of public data mentioned the “transition should be completed in one week,” with out providing additional particulars. Because the district’s administrator, Gilzean had an annual wage of $400,000. He’ll earn about half that as elections supervisor.
In a joint assertion, a gaggle of federal and state Democratic lawmakers within the Orlando space, together with U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost, mentioned Gilzean’s appointment was simply the newest instance of DeSantis naming unqualified loyalists to elected positions “so he can control every part of our state and local governments and warp our democracy to his will.”
“Glen Gilzean is a Ron DeSantis loyalist who’s top priority seems to be making Ron DeSantis happy, not protecting the integrity of our elections,” the Democratic lawmakers mentioned. “This move signals the Governor’s focus on silencing the voices of Central Florida voters as one of the most northern progressive hubs in our state. We cannot let this happen.”
Gilzean’s new appointment comes at a time of turmoil for the district, which has seen an exodus of skilled staffers because the takeover and many litigation. The district gives municipal providers resembling firefighting, planning and mosquito management, amongst different issues.
A combat between DeSantis and Disney started in 2022 after the corporate, dealing with significant internal and external pressure, publicly opposed a state legislation that critics have known as “Don’t Say Gay.” The 2022 legislation bans classroom classes on sexual orientation and gender identification in early grades and was championed by DeSantis, who used Disney as a punching bag in speeches till he suspended his presidential campaign this yr.
As punishment, DeSantis took over the district by way of laws handed by the Republican-controlled Florida Legislature and appointed a brand new board of supervisors, which named Gilzean as administrator.
Disney sued DeSantis and his appointees, claiming the corporate’s free speech rights have been violated for talking out towards the laws. A federal decide dismissed that lawsuit in January. Disney has appealed.
A separate lawsuit over who controls the district remains to be pending in state courtroom in Orlando.
In his new job, Gilzean will oversee the GOP presidential major this month, primaries in August and the November normal election. He has no earlier expertise working elections. Presently, 5 Democrats, a Republican and an unbiased have filed to run for elections supervisor in Orange County later this yr. Gilzean shouldn’t be amongst them.
