In a turn of events that has stirred up the political waters, CareerSource Central Florida has returned $1.9 million to the county government. They have also canceled a contract with Election Supervisor Glen Gilzean. This move comes after a disagreement that has triggered Mayor Jerry Demings’ ire.
Why This Matters
The decision to return the funds was met with approval by the Orange County, which stated, “The monies rightfully belong to the taxpayers of Orange County”. The County went on to thank CareerSource for “doing the right thing”. It’s worth noting that the Board of County Commissioners will soon decide on how these funds should be utilized in a way that benefits the residents of Orange County.
The Gilzean-Demings Feud
The conflict between Gilzean and Demings began after Gilzean spent $2.1 million for student scholarships, which he originally named after himself, and $1.9 million in career training. This was aimed at training temporary workers who helped run the county’s elections this year, who were soon to be jobless.
Demings, however, argued that this was an improper use of taxpayer dollars. He believed that Gilzean should have automatically returned the surpluses to the county government general fund. Furthermore, Gilzean didn’t have the proper oversight from the county since the county hadn’t been aware of the spending in the 2023-24 budget, which was originally set by former Elections Supervisor Bill Cowles.
Gilzean’s Defense
Despite the criticism, Gilzean continues to defend his decisions. He maintains that as a constitutional officer, he has the power to make spending decisions. His Office saved money both by making changes and because there was no Democratic Presidential Primary. He also accused Demings and some Commissioners of going on a “partisan witch hunt to skewer a political opponent.”
Gilzean stated, “Unlike the Mayor, I am not running for office. I have no one to pander to, no backroom deals to uphold, and no need to stick my neck out except to do something good with the opportunity I’ve been given to help people. I am proud of the work our office has done and proud to stand up for my community.”
He went on to say, “The County’s threats to use taxpayer resources to sue our office show a poor understanding of Florida law and an insistence on pursuing lawfare as a function of the government. The facts in this case are simple.”
Impact on the Community
Brandon Bryan, a high school student, believes that his fellow students are the ones caught in the middle of the Demings-Gilzean fight. “Personally, I think that funding a scholarship is a perfect use of taxpayer money,” said Bryan. He also hopes the two sides reach a compromise if the scholarships weren’t vetted through the proper channels and get canceled.
This saga serves as a reminder of the complexities of political decision-making and the potential impact on local communities. The unfolding of events provides an opportunity for residents to engage in local politics and advocate for the responsible use of public funds. The controversy also underscores the essential role of transparency and accountability in public service.
