DeSantis appoints Central Florida Tourism Oversight District Administrator as new Supervisor of Elections in Orange County

Mar 04, 2024 in "Reedy Creek Improvement District"

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CFTOD Administrator Glen Gilzean

Posted: Monday March 4, 2024 1:08pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has appointed Glen Gilzean as Supervisor of Elections in Orange County, filling the vacancy left by former supervisor Bill Cowles' retirement in January.

CFTOD Administrator Glen Gilzean

Gilzean has most recently served as Administrator of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, which replaced the former Reedy Creek Improvement District. It isn't yet clear if his new position will require him to resign from his $400K job at CFTOD but Paula Hoisington's will be acting District Administrator during Gilzean's unavailability.

Gilzean will head the Orange County Supervisor of Elections Office as the state begins preparations for the 2024 presidential election.

Gilzean formerly served as Chairman of the Florida Commission on Ethics and President and CEO of the Central Florida Urban League. Prior to that, he was vice president at Step Up For Students, a scholarship granting organization in Jacksonville. He served on the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) Board of Trustees from 2013 until 2014 and was a member of the Pinellas County School Board in 2012. He served as regional field director for the Florida Department of Education from 2006 until 2009. Gilzean received his bachelor’s degree in biomedical sciences and his master’s degree in entrepreneurship from the University of South Florida.

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castlecake2.01 day ago

Yes

Stripes1 day ago

Has Disney/CFTOD continued to replace the purple direction signage with the new blue color scheme since CFTOD took over?

mkt1 day ago

You're right. The new document will be different. It will be "different" in the way that Chris Gaines was "different" from Garth Brooks or how the drummer from Nirvana is "different" from the singer of the Foo Fighters.

Unbanshee1 day ago

Both are effectively picked by the Governor, just not technically. Look no further than the communications "strategy" with the replacement of Gilzean of the Governor's office getting out ahead of every single step of the process

lazyboy97o1 day ago

The settlement acknowledged the “need” to change the comprehensive plan, which undermines this idea. So too does the lack of an agreement, as the 2032 Comprehensive Plan wasn’t that different than the again in force 2020 Comprehensive Plan.

Brian1 day ago

That's understandable for sure. I just felt inclined to make the distinction due to the ongoing conversation, as the district administrator is selected by the board, while the board is selected by the governor.

mkt1 day ago

The new agreement will be functionally the same as the one Disney was sued over.

pdude811 day ago

You're right. This has been going on so long I just lumped all the antagonists together.

Brian1 day ago

Not to nitpick, but Gilzean was district administrator, not a board member.

pdude811 day ago

A bigger risk than keeping Garcia and Gilzean on the board as active disruptors? I don't agree with their decision to stall the federal lawsuit, but I understand why they saw the status quo as a risk to growth over the next few years.

lazyboy97o1 day ago

You don’t think dropping your bargaining power in the middle is the best strategy in a negotiation?

flynnibus1 day ago

Again… we know nothing except both sides have shown signs of positive attitude and certainty of successful outcomes. What does that mean? None if us know. All we can speculate is… they know a lot more than they have said publicly… and obvious things like "desantis is not perpetual…" were clearly obvious to them when they made these choices.

UNCgolf2 days ago

That seems wildly optimistic.

flynnibus2 days ago

“Right now…” Yes, we all know this. But again, we don’t know what back room deal they have setup. Who knows… it could even include new legislation promises… Or Disney is just rolling with the hand they are dealt… maybe they have accepted that the time to sunset their advantages of rcid is here… none of us can tell what their true intentions are right now.