Anne Geggis
Glen Gilzean, said he’s not ready to choose between his $400,000-a-year job as an administrator of the district overseeing Disney and his position on the state Commission on Ethics — but will decide before the Commission’s Sept. 8 meeting.
Steven Zuilkowski, the Ethics Commission’s General Counsel, rendered an opinion this week that Gilzean, current Commission Chair, faces a choice of whether to resign his position on the Commission on Ethics or his post as administrator for Disney’s oversight board, the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (CFTOD).
The district oversees Disney World’s government services. It’s a position Gilzean has held since May following the controversial dissolution of the Disney-controlled Reedy Creek Improvement District.
Gilzean got the administrator’s job even though Commission on Ethics’ rules bar members on the government watchdog panel from holding public employment. Reporting from the Florida Bulldog brought the four-month old conflict with state rules to light.
Gilzean doesn’t believe it should be seen as a problem, according to an email first obtained by The Florida Bulldog.
“I am not a lawyer and believed my status at CFTOD was of no concern,” Gilzean wrote. “… I did not appreciate the nuanced factors that distinguish an employee and an independent contractor.”
He asked Zuilkowski to review his CFTOD contract and propose specific changes that would bring it into conformity with relevant rules. Zuilkowski demurred, however.
“I am the Commission’s lawyer but no individual commissioner is my client,” Zuilkowski wrote. “I am not permitted as general counsel for the Commission to assist any individual Commissioner with their personal legal issues, such as amending employment contracts with other entities.”
Gilzean lashed the Commission on Ethics’ staff for sending Zuilkowski’s legal opinion to the press at the same time he received it.
“As far as I’m concerned, someone on your staff knowingly leaked this memo and weaponized it,” Gilzean wrote, echoing a theme heard on DeSantis’ campaign trail.
Kerrie Stillman, the Commission’s Executive Director, said that was not the case. The opinion was distributed in response to numerous public records requests.
“There was no ill intent,” Stillman wrote.
5 comments
Captain Obvious
August 19, 2023 at 1:16 pm
That this person is anywhere near an “ethics” commission is stunning.
Pancho Villar
August 21, 2023 at 8:20 am
Agreed. It’s par for the course for the DeSantis kleptorats he seems to install throughout all these prominent positions throughout state government. I hope folks start realizing that having 30+ years of GOP rule has just made these fat cats complacent with their concealment of grift.
Mickey
August 19, 2023 at 6:21 pm
This is silly. Of course he’s going for the money.Save the ink and wasting our time on this. This guy is for sale ….all day long. Only thing he’s waiting on is to find out if his masta gonna give him another job or hook him up somewhere instead with the same money
slb
August 21, 2023 at 12:45 pm
It’s Florida. He’s a Der Dwarf prole. Ethics don’t even rise to the level of afterthought.
John Tolliver
August 21, 2023 at 9:32 pm
So the politically appointed chairman of the anti-disney board makes $400,000 a year, the same amount as the president of the United States. How do you get a gig like that??
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