Ron DeSantis Appoints Craig Mateer to the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District Board
Florida governor Ron DeSantis has appointed Orlando entrepreneur Craig Mateer to the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (CFTOD) board to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Chairman Martin Garcia, who resigned earlier this month.
Mateer is the founder and CEO of CCM Capital Group, which provides hospitality, real estate, and logistical services. He is also the founder of the luggage handling business Bags Inc., which he sold for $275 million in 2018.
Mateer has been a large donor to Ron DeSantis’s campaigns, both governor and president, as well as to the Florida Republican Party.
DeSantis previously named Mateer to the Greater Orland Aviation Authority in 2021 and the Florida Board of Governors a year later. He is also a graduate of Florida State University.
DeSantis’s Other Nominee Up For Consideration
While DeSantis is charged with appointing nominees to the CFTOD, the state Senate must approve his nominees.
The district board is currently scheduled to meet Wednesday to consider DeSantis’ recommendation of Stephanie Kopelousos as its new administrator. Kopelousos would replace Glen Gilzean, whom DeSantis appointed as interim Orange County elections supervisor.
Both Mateer and Kopelousos would infuse new blood into the CFTOD, which still finds itself at odds with the Walt Disney Company. The two sides are continuing to battle in state court, even as Disney prepares to appeal a federal judge’s ruling that dismissed their lawsuit against the special district.
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