Gov. Charlie Crist names former school superintendent Earl Lennard as Hillsborough elections chief
July 14, 2009 at 12:01 pm by Wayne Garcia
Earl Lennard, right, with Commissioner Ken Hagan earlier this year after winning the 2009 Hillsborough Good Government Award. Credit: Hillsboroughcounty.org
It is not a worst-case scenario for voters or Democrats who hoped that Gov. Charlie Crist would appoint a good adminstrator (and Democrat) to replace Phyllis Busansky, who passed away suddenly a few weeks ago. The choice of Earl Lennard is not wildly ideological, as he is not a fire-breathing conservative, nor especially partisan, as Lennard has been both a Democrat and Republican (or at least considered running as both/either for the State Senate in 2006, a race he entered as a Republican and later dropped out of) and spent much of his public life as an appointed nonpartisan leader.
But it is not, as many had hoped, the choice of Democrat Craig Latimer, who was Busansky’s chief of staff and the driving force behind the planned changes at the office.
Lennard makes sense in terms of a picking a relatively nonpartisan administrator who has run a large organization and who understands how to gear up for really big work days (first day of school vs. Election day). Some may grouse about it, and there are Lennard haters out there, but Crist surprised me with this pick. I expected something that would please conservatives more.
From the Gov’s Office:
GOVERNOR CRIST APPOINTS EARL LENNARD AS HILLSBOROUGH SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS
July 14, 2009
CLEARWATER – Governor Charlie Crist today appointed Earl Lennard of Riverview as Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections. Lennard previously served as Hillsborough County Superintendent of Schools from 1996 to 2005.
“Earl understands the importance of elections in our democracy and has a fundamental sense of fairness,” Governor Crist said. “Dr. Lennard has served the Hillsborough County community well, both as superintendent and as a community leader, and I am confident he will once again serve the people of Hillsborough County well.”
Lennard, 67, served as a classroom teacher and administrator before being appointed as superintendent. A 42-year educator, he received the Ellsworth Simmons Good Government Award earlier this year from the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners. He was named Florida Superintendent of the Year in 2003 by the Florida Association of District School Superintendents.
Lennard’s community service currently includes serving on the boards of directors for the Brandon Community Foundation, the Hillsborough County Fair, the Riverview Chamber of Commerce, the Boys and Girls Club of Riverview and A Kid’s Place. He earned bachelor’s and doctoral degrees from the University of South Florida and a master’s from the University of Florida.
Lennard is appointed for a term concluding November 8, 2010, to fill the vacancy created by the death of Phyllis Busansky last month.
