TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis reappointed seven trustees to two Florida state college boards, filling seats at North Florida College and State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota with a mix of local elected officials, educators, a retired attorney and two military veterans.
Six of the reappointments go to the North Florida College District Board of Trustees: Jon “Travis” Coker, Sandra Haas, Ricky Lyons, Adrienne Taylor, William “Billy” Washington and Lloyd “Gary” Wright. The seventh, Jaime DiDomenico, returns to the State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota District Board of Trustees. All seven appointments are subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.
The North Florida College slate draws heavily from rural North Florida civic life. Washington has served as Madison County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller since 2017 and currently sits as a commissioner on the Third Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission. A veteran of the United States Army and the Florida Army National Guard, he earned his bachelor’s degree in anthropology from Florida State University. Wright, also a U.S. Army veteran, is principal of L. Gary Wright & Associates, LLC, and has served as president of the Florida Bankers Association and chairman of the Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare Foundation. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University.
Lyons, a self-employed farmer, previously served as Lafayette County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller from 1988 to 2016 and has chaired the Farmers’ Cooperative of Live Oak, Madison, and Lake City. He earned his associate degree from North Florida College and his bachelor’s degree in agriculture from the University of Florida. Haas, a retired attorney and former owner of the Law Office of Sandra K. Haas, served as a Suwannee County School Board member and volunteered with Three Rivers Legal. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and a juris doctor from the University of Florida.
Coker, a senior associate for healthcare consulting with Katz, Sapper, & Miller, previously served as director of special projects and legislative affairs with the Florida Association of Community Health Centers and as a government operations consultant with the Florida Agency for Healthcare Administration. He earned his associate degree from North Florida College and his bachelor’s degree in economics from Florida State University. Taylor, principal at Suwannee Middle School, previously served as executive director of the Suwannee Foundation for Excellence in Education, Inc., and as assistant principal at Suwannee High School. She holds a bachelor’s degree in recreation, parks, and tourism from the University of Florida and a master’s degree in educational leadership from the American College of Education.
DiDomenico, the sole Manatee-Sarasota appointee, is vice president of The Wrench Group, LLC. He serves as treasurer of the Boys and Girls Club of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties Board of Directors and on the Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee County Board of Directors. He earned his bachelor’s degree in management and his master’s degree in accounting from Nova Southeastern University.
The Florida Senate is expected to take up the confirmations during its next session.