On Monday, March 4, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of Glen Gilzean as supervisor of elections in Orange County to fill the vacancy left by former supervisor Bill Cowles’ retirement in January.
Gilzean will head the Orange County Supervisor of Elections Office as the state begins preparations for the 2024 presidential election.
Most recently, Gilzean served as administrator of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District as the district navigated the transition from the former Reedy Creek Improvement District.
In April 2022, DeSantis signed Senate Bill 4-C into law to dissolve Reedy Creek Improvement District effective June 1, 2023. In February 2023, the governor signed House Bill 9-B establishing a new state-appointed board renaming Reedy Creek Improvement District to Central Florida Tourism Oversight District.
“I’m honored to take on this role with the same passion I did with The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (CFTOD),” Gilzean wrote in his March 4 statement on his Facebook page in response to the appointment. “During this transition, rest assured that my commitment remains unwavering. I’ll be working closely with the Board of Supervisors to ensure a seamless shift while upholding our standards of excellence. I trust in Paula J. Hoisington’s leadership as Acting District Administrator during my unavailability.”
Gilzean formerly served as chairman of the Florida Commission on Ethics and President and CEO of the Central Florida Urban League. Prior to that, he was vice president at Step Up For Students, a scholarship granting organization in Jacksonville.
He served on the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) Board of Trustees from 2013 until 2014 and was a member of the Pinellas County School Board in 2012. He served as regional field director for the Florida Department of Education from 2006 until 2009.
Gilzean received his bachelor’s degree in biomedical sciences and his master’s degree in entrepreneurship from the University of South Florida.
