News Reedy Creek Improvement District and the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District

[LAKid53]

It’s insane

There's a really good opinion piece in the Sentinel about his time as chair of the Ethics Commission. He apparently has no appreciation for state procurement laws.

That whole "no bid" contract mess he created at CFTOD will be a big issue in his new role. He's going to be under a lot more scrutiny in this new job.

 

[Lilofan]

Making $11K a week if he receives both salaries - $400K (CFTOD) and $205K (elections supervisor) - during the transition.

And he will have a pension when he retires.

 

[LAKid53]

And he will have a pension when he retires.

No he won't. He has to be part of the FRS for 8 years in order to be vested, i.e., eligible to receive a pension. That requirement includes the "elected officials class" which a supervisor of elections is covered under. His term with the Ethic Commission started in 2019. So he's not vested until 2027.

 

[Lilofan]

No he won't. He has to be part of the FRS for 8 years in order to be vested, i.e., eligible to receive a pension. That requirement includes the "elected officials class" which a supervisor of elections is covered under. His term with the Ethic Commission started in 2019. So he's not vested until 2027.

So that means after 2027?

 

[LAKid53]

So that means after 2027?

Only if he's still part of the FRS at the time. He can retire after vestment, but only if he's 65 and has the 8 years of countable service. Otherwise it's 33 years of service, as he joined the FRS after 2011, regardless of age.

However, early retirement can only be taken if you're within 20 years of your retirement age. And there's a 5% reduction in your monthly benefit for every year your age at retirement is under the normal retirement age.

 

[DCBaker]

DeSantis has reportedly made his recommendation on who he wants to replace Glen Gilzean.

TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration on Monday recommended that Stephanie Kopelousos, a former adviser who most recently served on his campaign for president, replace Glen Gilzean as administrator of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District that oversees Walt Disney World.

The board, appointed entirely by DeSantis, still must approve it, but the governor’s office on Monday was already calling it a done deal.

“We are glad to see her step into this leadership role as the District embarks upon the next chapter in its efforts to ensure an even and transparent playing field for the businesses that operate in Central Florida,” said Bryan Griffin, communications director for the governor.

He said she “has extensive state and local government experience that make her the ideal candidate to take the reins at CFTOD.”

The position became vacant when DeSantis tapped Gilzean, a Republican ally, to replace retiring Bill Cowles, a Democrat, as interim Orange County Supervisor of Elections. Cowles retired on Jan. 31.

It remains unclear whether Gilzean has left the Disney district and if he has continued to receive his $400,000 a year salary while also taking a $205,000 annual paycheck as elections supervisor. Gilzean has not responded to repeated requests for comment on that issue.

Gilzean resigned last year as chairman of the state ethics commission when he got the Disney district job after media reports revealed that state law said he couldn’t hold both positions.

Before DeSantis tapped her to work on his campaign last summer, Kopelousos was a senior adviser and director of legislative affairs for DeSantis.

In that role, she and other members of the governor’s staff reached out to state lawmakers while the Legislature was in session to endorse DeSantis for president. She and other staffers also asked several lobbyists for donations to his campaign.

Kopelousos also worked behind the scenes to get Disney World a carve-out from the governor’s Big Tech bill three years ago, when the tourism and entertainment giant was contributing to his gubernatorial reelection campaign chest.

Kopelousos also served as Clay County manager for eight years and was Department of Transportation secretary under Gov. Charlie Crist.

Article from the link below.

DeSantis recommends key adviser to replace Gilzean at Disney district

Gov. Ron DeSantis is recommending Stephanie Kopelousos, a key adviser who most recently served on his failed campaign for president, to replace Glen Gilzean as director of the Central Florida Touri…

www.orlandosentinel.com

 

[mmascari]

DeSantis has reportedly made his recommendation on who he wants to replace Glen Gilzean.

Wasn't there statements in one of the lawsuits from either the governor's office or CFTOD that the governor didn't have any control of CFTOD beyond appointing the board?

That there is a recommendation on who the board should hire and "governor’s office on Monday was already calling it a done deal" would seem to imply there's more influence that those legal statements implied. A fact I expect Disney's lawyers will not miss.

 

[LAKid53]

DeSantis has reportedly made his recommendation on who he wants to replace Glen Gilzean.



Article from the link below.

DeSantis recommends key adviser to replace Gilzean at Disney district

Gov. Ron DeSantis is recommending Stephanie Kopelousos, a key adviser who most recently served on his failed campaign for president, to replace Glen Gilzean as director of the Central Florida Touri…

www.orlandosentinel.com

At least she had relevant experience as a former county manager...unlike a lot of his appointments to the Board and recommendations for administrator.

 

[LAKid53]

Wasn't there statements in one of the lawsuits from either the governor's office or CFTOD that the governor didn't have any control of CFTOD beyond appointing the board?

That there is a recommendation on who the board should hire and "governor’s office on Monday was already calling it a done deal" would seem to imply there's more influence that those legal statements implied. A fact I expect Disney's lawyers will not miss.

Welcome to the reality of boards solely appointed by the governor....

However, Gilzean needs to resign first and the few comments he's made don't seem like he's in any hurry. I'm sure there's some provision in his contract that would allow the Board to terminate him in cases like this.

While statute doesn't prohibit him from holding both (needs to change), in reality he can't physically do both...

Then there's the issue of doing CFTOD business while on the Supervisor's clock or vice versa.

 

[OvertheHorizon]

I said about a thousand pages ago on this thread that if the legislature felt they had to get rid of the Reed Creek Improvement District, it would have been better to allow the Governor to make one appointment to the new Board with other appointments made by the President of the State Senate, Speaker of the State House, and appointments from the County Executives of Orange and Osceola County.

 

[LAKid53]

I said about a thousand pages ago on this thread that if the legislature felt they had to get rid of the Reed Creek Improvement District, it would have been better to allow the Governor to make one appointment to the new Board with other appointments made by the President of the State Senate, Speaker of the State House, and appointments from the County Executives of Orange and Osceola County.

That wouldn't get rid of the District.

 

[OvertheHorizon]

That wouldn't get rid of the District.

I meant reconstitute the District from RCID to CFTOD. I wasn't in favor of the change made, but never thought that ALL of the Board appointments should be made solely by the Governor.

 

[Brian]

I meant reconstitute the District from RCID to CFTOD. I wasn't in favor of the change made, but never thought that ALL of the Board appointments should be made solely by the Governor.

There were some on this thread who, if they had it their way, would have rathered there be no local/landowner elected board members, as is the case now, than to agree to a compromise with the governor in which some are appointed by the governor and others appointed/elected by the counties and/or landowners, all because compromising with DeSantis would somehow amount to validating his retaliation.

Of course, this all or nothing approach failed to take into consideration the political and power dynamics of the time, which dictated there would be a snowball's chance in Key West that the district board would consist of all landowner/locally elected/selected members, as these same forum members would prefer, and that DeSantis was going to do what he wanted to do, and Disney was at the time, and remains as of this post, unable to stop him.

 

[peter11435]

There were some on this thread who, if they had it their way, would have rathered there be no local/landowner elected board members, as is the case now, than to agree to a compromise with the governor in which some are appointed by the governor and others appointed/elected by the counties and/or landowners, all because compromising with DeSantis would somehow amount to validating his retaliation.

Of course, this all or nothing approach failed to take into consideration the political and power dynamics of the time, which dictated there would be a snowball's chance in Key West that the district board would consist of all landowner/locally elected/selected members, as these same forum members would prefer, and that DeSantis was going to do what he was going to and Disney was at the time, and remains as of this post, unable to stop him.

It should still be gravely concerning to you that there are no local/landowner elected board members.

 

[Brian]

It should still be gravely concerning to you that there are no local/landowner elected board members.

It is.

 

[MisterPenguin]

all because compromising with DeSantis would somehow amount to validating his retaliation.

"Somehow"

You never reward bad behavior. Whether pets, children, adults, or government officials.

 

[Brian]

"Somehow"

You never reward bad behavior. Whether pets, children, adults, or government officials.

That may be, but if he had the power to do it, was going to follow through on his promise to do it, and Disney couldn't do anything to stop him, wouldn't it have been better to compromise and get at least some local/landowner seats on the board? In hindsight (which is crystal clear) at least?

Wouldn't that be better, albeit an understandably tough pill to swallow for some, than the alternative they have now, which is a board comprised of ideologues with no personal or professional stake in the success of the landowners?

 

[peter11435]

It is.

Especially considering the powers the district holds. It’s a huge case of bait and switch.

The district that exits today could never have existed and held the powers it does if not for RCID existing before it.

 

[LAKid53]

I meant reconstitute the District from RCID to CFTOD. I wasn't in favor of the change made, but never thought that ALL of the Board appointments should be made solely by the Governor.

You'd be surprised the number of Boards throughout the state in which all members are appointed by the governor.

 

[mmascari]

Wouldn't that be better, albeit an understandably tough pill to swallow for some, than the alternative they have now, which is a board comprised of ideologues with no personal or professional stake in the success of the landowners?

With a board of 5, what use would having 2 members be?

They wouldn't be different people trying to achieve similar goals with differences about how to get there and the nuances around larger shared goals. They would be 2 people with one goal and 3 people with a completely different goal. The 3 would overrule the 2 for everything. They wouldn't even need to pretend about good faith compromise.

It would largely be exactly the same as having no representation.

You'd be surprised the number of Boards throughout the state in which all members are appointed by the governor.

That also have taxing authority? Or, other rights similar to CFTOD?