ORLANDO, Fla. — The upheaval in Walt Disney World’s administrative district, more than a year after it was taken over by Gov. Ron DeSantis’ appointees, continued Wednesday with the departure of the board chairman, who had been highly critical of Disney.
Martin Garcia’s departure as chairman of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District comes a week after the district’s administrator, Glen Gilzean, left to seek an appointment by DeSantis as supervisor of the midterm elections in Orange County, home to Orlando. to accept at half his district’s salary of $400,000. .
Martin did not respond to an email seeking comment on Wednesday.
In an email, DeSantis communications director Bryan Griffin thanked Garcia for “successfully navigating” the district’s transition from a governing body controlled by Disney supporters to the current version controlled by DeSantis appointees.
Garcia “developed a new district focused on transparency and the elimination of corporate welfare,” Griffin said.
The Republican governor also recommended appointing a former senior adviser, Stephanie Kopelousos, as the district’s new administrator. Kopelousos was director of legislative affairs for DeSantis and previously served in other Florida governor’s administrations.
“We are pleased to see her step into this leadership role as the District embarks on the next chapter in its efforts to ensure a level and transparent playing field for the businesses operating in Central Florida,” said Griffin.
Since taking over last year, the district has faced an exodus of experienced employees and many lawsuits. The district provides municipal services such as firefighting, planning and mosquito control, among other things, and was controlled by Disney supporters for most of its five decades.
A fight between DeSantis and Disney began in 2022 after the company, facing significant internal and external pressure, publicly opposed a state law that critics called “Don’t Say Gay.” The 2022 law banned classroom lessons about sexual orientation and gender identity in early grades and was championed by DeSantis, who used Disney as a punching bag in speeches until he suspended his presidential campaign this year.
As punishment for opposing the law, DeSantis took over the district through legislation passed by the Republican-controlled Florida Legislature and appointed a new board of supervisors.
Disney sued DeSantis and his appointees, claiming the company’s free speech rights had been violated for speaking out against the legislation. A federal judge dismissed that lawsuit in January. Disney has appealed.
A separate lawsuit over who controls the district is still pending in court in Orlando.
A settlement agreement over the “Don’t Say Gay” legislation was reached this week between Florida education officials and civil rights groups that had challenged the law’s constitutionality on behalf of parents, students and others. The law remains intact, but the deal stipulates that Florida law does not ban discussion of LGBTQ+ people, ban anti-bullying rules based on sexual orientation and gender identity, or ban Gay-Straight Alliance groups.
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