Nearly a dozen of Gov. DeSantis’ appointees fail to secure Senate confirmation

conceptual image of an alarm clock showing that you are too late

Nearly a dozen appointees to state boards failed to win confirmation this Legislative Session. But the Senate made clear that timing issues were the most common explanation.

The most significant exception was Tina Descovich, a Moms for Liberty co-founder appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis to the Ethics Commission. The Senate declined to confirm her based on a citizen complaint her work with the parental rights group effectively served as lobbying. But DeSantis’ Office already indicated she will be reappointed and her confirmation should return to the Senate next year.

That’s likely the situation for 11 other nominees for positions who also failed to win an okay from the Senate this Session.

“It is important to remember that appointments are made on an ongoing basis, so it is common that appointments are made and there is not ample time left to complete the confirmation process during the first session,” said Katherine Betta, spokesperson for Senate President Kathleen Passidomo. “That is why the process allows for two sessions to complete the confirmation process.”

Those unconfirmed as Session wraps include another appointee to the Ethics Commission: Freddie Figgers. A former Vice Chair of Enterprise Florida, Figgers was appointed by DeSantis in July along with two other members: Ashley Lukis and Edwin Moore.

Moore resigned his position on the Commission in December, so his reappointment was not considered in the Senate. Lukis was confirmed by the Senate on Thursday, as was Luis Fusté, a Governor appointment announced the same day as Descovich.

But Figgers was not.

With Moore’s seat still vacant, and another seat reserved for a Senate appointee also unfilled, that leaves the Ethics Commission short-handed regardless of the future of Descovich or Figgers.

But Betta stressed that in the case of all unconfirmed nominees, excluding Descovich, the issue was that “packets were either not complete, or time expired prior to the appointee being heard in all committees.”

That’s how all seven of DeSantis’ appointees to the Florida School for Competitive Academics Board of Trustees failed to be confirmed. That list includes Ethan Fieldman, Will Frazer, Thomas Grady, Michael Grego, Andrea Keiser, Bethany McAlister and Jason Rosenberg. That newly created state school is expected to accept students starting in the 2024-25 academic year.

DeSantis in September also appointed Joe Nunziata, a home loan, banking and real estate professional in Orlando, to the Central Florida Expressway Authority. But the Senate also did not confirm Nunziata to the board.

And last April, DeSantis appointed Joshua Dennis, of Oviedo, to the state Board of Athletic Training. But he did not secure confirmation this year.

Neither Nunziata nor Dennis appear right now as members of the boards on their respective websites.