Jacob Ogles
Glen Gilzean appears to have a choice to make.
Legal counsel for the Florida Ethics Commission says Gilzean can’t serve on that state board and run the district governing Walt Disney World.
The Ethics Commission Chair took a job in May as district administrator for the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District. That’s the high-profile special taxing district that replaced the Reedy Creek Improvement District, which had allowed Disney to self-govern its Central Florida resort property for decades.
But state law says no member of the Ethics Commission may hold any public employment, notes Steven Zuilkowski, General Counsel for the Florida Ethics Commission.
“It appears that your position as District Administrator for the District is public employment, Zuilkowski writes in a memo to Gilzean. “Maintaining the public employment is inconsistent with the requirements.”
Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed the entire oversight districts board while members of Reedy Creek were named by majority property owners, meaning the Disney company.
One of the first decisions by the new board was to hire Gilzean, a close ally of DeSantis who previously served as CEO of the Central Florida Urban League. DeSantis also appointed Gilzean to the Ethics Commission, a position he is set to hold until June 2024, and he now chairs the statewide board.
But in recent days, Gilzean came under fire for holding both positions. Orlando Sentinel columnist Scott Maxwell criticized the administrator in a column earlier this week, drawing wide attention to the issue.
The same day, Gilzean asked Zuilkowski to research the issue and offer guidance.
“I don’t want there to be any appearance of a conflict of interest,” Gilzean wrote in an email to the general counsel.
Zuilkowski wrote that he had a previous conversation with Gilzean when he was first hired, but Gilzean said he had outside counsel suggest serving on the Commission and taking a job with the district was not a conflict.
In his memo, Zuilkowski carefully explored what constitutes public employment as compared to being a state contract worker. But since Gilzean’s contract with the district has no end date and requires full-time work at the will of a public board, the job qualifies.
8 comments
Dr. Franklin Waters
August 17, 2023 at 2:23 pm
Universal Studios just set up a new Special District for their new Orlando theme park that’s currently under construction.
And I was told by DeSantis that these are “unfair” or something?
Is it possible DeSantis might be lying?
Earl Pitts American
August 17, 2023 at 2:42 pm
Relax your spincter Dr. Frankenstein,
As you are aware Dr. a lot of those serving on the Ethics Board are Dook 4 Brains leftists and their Attorneys are also.
We will have our Judge quash that fool Attorney’s opinion shortly.
EPA
Earl Pitts is a Pedophile
August 17, 2023 at 3:10 pm
Why aren’t you in prison, Earl?
We all know you’re a child rapist. We’ve seen your record.
Maybe you should exercise your 2nd Amendment Rights shoot yourself in the head with a .45? The world will be a better and safer place when you are dead.
Dr. Franklin Waters
August 17, 2023 at 3:11 pm
It’s weird how you and only you keep replying to my comments like you’re obsessed with me.
I’m not a 14 year old child and i’m not going to sleep with you.
Joe
August 17, 2023 at 3:21 pm
Wrong as always, Earl Pitts Pedophils: the entirety of the Florida Ethics Commission has been appointed by Florida’s RepubliQan governor and Senate president. Go live in the ocean.
Joe
August 17, 2023 at 3:22 pm
Wrong as always, Earl: the entirety of the Florida Ethics Commission has been appointed by Florida’s RepubliQan governor and Senate president. Go live in the ocean.
just sayin
August 18, 2023 at 8:05 am
They set up a CDD (community development district). These are common, and have significantly fewer powers than a county. Reedy Creek Improvement District, however, had more powers than a county does.
I remember when your average liberal would have been appalled at the idea of a multibillion dollar corporation having its own government with almost unlimited authority.
The good old days.
eva
August 17, 2023 at 2:53 pm
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