Orange County Election Supervisor Glen Gilzean fired again Monday at County Mayor Jerry Demings, who has criticized the Gov. Ron DeSantis appointee for steering $4 million from his workplace finances to non-election packages.
In an e mail to the Orlando Sentinel and different information shops, Gilzean promised to “vigorously defend our mission to increase voter participation and enhance the lives of Orange County residents” if Demings and county commissioners sue to recuperate the cash he gave to Valencia Faculty and CareerSource Central Florida. The county board plans to debate the problem Tuesday.
Gilzean stated his workplace “acted properly inside the regulation” to divert cash to the 2 packages.
“The associated fee-savings our workplace achieved final 12 months helped pave the way in which for 2 modern packages central to the mission of this workplace to extend voter outreach whereas placing a school training inside the attain of low-income college students throughout Orange County Colleges. As well as, our workplace additionally returned greater than $700,000 in unused funds to the county,” Gilzean stated. “Sadly, that’s not sufficient for Mayor Jerry Demings and a few of his colleagues.”
“Orange County residents needs to be involved, upset and offended that the mayor needs to waste a whole bunch of 1000’s of tax {dollars} on attorneys and authorized charges to disclaim low-income college students the chance to enhance their lives.”
Gilzean’s remarks had been the newest flip in a brouhaha that has escalated during the last week for the reason that revelation of his plan to group with Valencia Faculty on a $2.1 million scholarship program for highschool college students he initially meant to call for himself. Gilzean dropped his identify after Demings referred to as the unsanctioned giveaway “inappropriate” and stated litigation was a risk. Subsequently it was revealed Gilzean had given practically as a lot — $1.9 million — to CareerSource for job coaching for non permanent election staff.
Demings and the fee might not must sue to recoup the cash.
Each Valencia Faculty and CareerSource have pledged in latest days handy the funds again if the county needs.
“Valencia Faculty is grateful for the beneficiant assist of our many neighborhood companions. We recognize the ahead pondering of the Orange County Supervisor of Elections who expressed a purpose to extend voter registration and college-going charges in underserved communities by way of the institution of the Orange County Promise of the Future Scholarship Fund,” stated Dr. Kathleen Plinske, Valencia president. “Though it will be disappointing if college students should not have entry to those scholarships, if Orange County asks for the return of the funds, Valencia will return the $2.1 million contribution.”
Likewise, Pamela Nabors, CareerSource Central Florida’s president & CEO, despatched an identical assertion to the newspaper Monday. “The aim of the donation was to boost profession providers and scholarships for election staff publish the election, and to supply them with profession providers, upskilling, coaching and employment,” it learn. “The funds would additionally increase present youth packages at CareerSource Central Florida, by way of profession exploration alternatives to study civic engagement and cybersecurity. If Orange County requests, we’ll return the funds.”
The mayor declined Monday by way of a county spokesperson to reply to Gilzean’s newest remarks.
“Once more,” stated spokesperson Jane Watrel, “he’ll handle this matter tomorrow.”
The mayor stated final week he wished to debate the matter with county commissioners. The board meets Tuesday. Whereas not listed on the board agenda, a dialogue of Gilzean’s spending will comply with the fee’s common enterprise, Watrel stated.
Demings has famous that Gilzean didn’t point out the packages at finances hearings in July.
Constitutional officers — the comptroller, clerk of courts, property appraiser, sheriff and tax collector — historically return unspent taxpayer funds from their finances to the county for redistribution to pay for different wants.
Gilzean, beforehand appointed by DeSantis to move the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, was tabbed by the governor to fill the seat vacated by Invoice Cowles who retired in January after 36 years of public service, most of it on the helm of the elections workplace.
Gilzean inherited a fiscal 12 months 2023-24 finances of $21.9 million from Cowles.
Gilzean, a DeSantis appointee, gained’t run for Orange elections chief; native races set
A Republican, Gilzean selected to not run for the elected workplace in Democrat-dominated Orange County. Karen Castor Dentel gained the publish of election supervisor Nov. 5. She has served as a member of the Orange County College Board and previously as a member of the Florida Home.
Castor Dentel gained the four-way race by capturing 40.2% of the vote, beating the second-place candidate Sunshine Linda-Marie Grund by 88,000 votes. All 4 candidates had been Democrats.
shudak@orlandosentinel.com