The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District's new district administrator praised the board's actions since taking power three months ago.
Glenton Gilzean, who was approved at the district's board meeting Wednesday, specifically praised the ability of the board and officials of the district, which encompasses the Walt Disney World Resort, to act without "outside influence."
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"Also critical to the better functioning of our region is proper checks and balances, and, of course, independence. By bringing in a new general counsel, independent legal counsel, and an independent financial advisor, the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District can now act without pressure from vested outside influence, and, therefore, primarily in the interest of our stakeholders," Gilzean said.
Gilzean is the chairman of the Florida Commission on Ethics and was appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL). Gilzean is the former president and CEO of the Central Florida Urban League. DeSantis also appointed the board members of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District.
The top priority Gilzean outlined for the district was related to "proper urban planning and the construction of affordable workforce housing."
He also said he wants to work with businesses within the district and said that cannot be "done by fighting endless battles in the courts." The comment was about Disney's lawsuit against DeSantis and the board.
"Walt Disney once said his goal was to build a 'City of Tomorrow.' The new leadership of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District is dedicated to doing just that," Gilzean said.
"We are all Floridians. We all want our businesses, both big and small, to thrive. But this cannot be done by fighting endless battles in the courts. It can only be achieved by collaborating in earnest to make this district a world-class model of public-private partnership. As I embark on this new role, I invite all Floridians to come forward with your thoughts, comments, and ideas. We are here to serve you and to make sure that your tax dollars are spent properly for the betterment of our community and our region as a whole," he continued.
While introducing Gilzean, board Chairman Martin Garcia admitted that recruiting someone to be the new district administrator was difficult because they will likely be added to Disney's federal lawsuit against DeSantis and the district.
"When we were out looking for a new administrator, we had to be honest with him, and we couldn't just tell him the first day that he showed up that he'd just be given the keys to the front door. But we had to tell him that he is going to not only be an administrator, but he is also probably gonna be a defendant in a lawsuit, and nobody likes to be sued," Garcia said.
Disney filed a lawsuit last month against DeSantis, the board members, the outgoing district administrator, and other state officials. The suit accused them of pursuing a "relentless campaign to weaponize government power against Disney in retaliation for expressing a political viewpoint unpopular with certain State officials."
The company claimed the state violated Disney's First Amendment right to speech, the contract and takings clauses in the Constitution, and the company's 14th Amendment right to due process. Disney argued that the actions by the state are punishing their protected speech regarding the state's Parental Rights in Education Act.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida, cited the board's actions of voiding an agreement Disney made with the previous Reedy Creek Improvement District board. The agreement undercut the new board's governing power. Disney called the new board's voiding of the agreement the "latest strike" in the state's string of "retaliatory" and "unconstitutional" actions.
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In response to the lawsuit, the board filed a countersuit in the Circuit Court of the 9th Judicial Circuit in and for Orange County, Florida. The countersuit alleged that Disney used its "influence to obtain what must have seemed like permanent exemptions from the democratic checks and balances that apply to all other Florida businesses."
The feud between DeSantis and the company, which led to Disney's central Florida district being restructured, stemmed from Disney denouncing DeSantis's push for the Parental Rights in Education Act last year. Disney had maintained full autonomy over the district since its creation in 1967.