DeSantis’ CFTOD Administrator Must Resign A Post Says Ethics Lawyer
According to a legal opinion released on Thursday, Glen Gilzean cannot continue to serve as Florida’s ethics commission chairman and work as the administrator of the DeSantis-appointed Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (CFTOD).
State law does not allow public employees to serve on the government watchdog panel, Steven Zuikowski, the ethics commission’s general counsel, wrote in the analysis.
Photo: Jim Carchidi/Orlando Business Journal
Filling Two Roles
Gilzean, who is the chairman of the ethics commission, was hired in May to lead the CFTOD.
“[I]t appears that your position as district administrator for the district is public employment,” Zuilkowski concluded.
DeSantis first appointed Gilzean to the ethics commission in August 2019, meaning his term expires in June 2024. The nine members of the ethics panel are appointed by the govenor and leaders of the Florida Senate and House.
Gilzean earns an annual salary of $400,000 as district administrator of the CFTOD, while ethics panel members do not draw a salary.
Photo: Fox News
Disney Vs. DeSantis
Since joining the Desantis-appointed CFTOD on May 10, Gilzean has overseen the district as it has battled Disney both in court and outside of it.
Recently, DeSantis appeared on CNBC and urged Disney to drop its federal lawsuit against the govenor and the CFTOD.
Ron DeSantis
“They’re suing the state of Florida. They’re going to lose that lawsuit,” DeSantis said. “So what I would say is, drop the lawsuit.”
Currently, the CFTOD is suing Disney in state court, while Disney is suing DeSantis and other administrators in federal court.
Photo: Also Fox Business
DeSantis for his part, says that he is no longer focused on Disney and has moved on.
“So all we want to do is treat everybody the same and let’s move forward. I’m totally fine with that. But I’m not fine with giving extraordinary privileges, you know, to one special company at the exclusion of everybody else.”
Photo: The Wall Street Journal
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