Movers and Shakers

Appointments and Actions by Governor DeSantis:

Florida School for the Deaf and Blind Board of Trustees Appointed were June Ann LeFors, Saint Augustine, an instructor for interpreter education as well as for the deaf and exceptional at the University of North Florida; and Christine Chapman, Saint Augustine, co-owner of All-American Air Conditioning and Heating.

Florida Supreme Court Appointed to the Florida Supreme Court was Judge Jamie Grosshans, 41, of Orlando. In 2018, she was appointed to serve as a judge on the Florida Fifth District Court of Appeal. Judge Grosshans received her J.D. from the University of Mississippi School of Law. She previously served as an Orange County court judge in the Ninth Judicial Circuit. She fills a vacancy created when former Florida Supreme Court Justice Robert Luck was appointed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit by President Donald Trump. DeSantis had previously appointed Renatha Francis to fill the vacancy. That appointment was rejected by the Florida Supreme Court.

Margo Deal Anderson Suspended as mayor of the City of Lynn Haven was Margo Deal Anderson. Anderson has been charged with multiple felonies involving federal funds mishandled in the wake of Hurricane Michael.

Clay County Sheriff Named sheriff of Clay County was former Atlantic Beach police chief Michelle Cook. Cook won a six-way Republican primary on August 18th to become sheriff; however, she will assume the post early following the Governor’s suspension last month of Sheriff Darryl Daniels. Daniels was charged with a felony of tampering with evidence and three misdemeanor counts of making false reports to law enforcement.

Northwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board Appointed were Kellie Ralston, Tallahassee, Southeast fisheries policy director for the American Sportfishing Association; and Nicholas “Nick” Patronis, Panama City Beach, owner of Captain Anderson’s Restaurant and Waterfront Market.

St. Johns River Water Management District Governing Board Appointed were Rob Bradley, Fleming Island, attorney and managing partner with Bradley, Garrison and Komando, P.A. and a Florida senator; and Janet Price, Fernandina Beach, senior manager of environmental affairs with Rayonier Inc.

Suwannee River Water Management District Governing Board Appointed was Harry Smith, Lake City, vice president of feed operations for Central States Enterprises.