Earl Lennard is new Hillsborough elections chief

Gov. Charlie Crist today named former Hillsborough schools superintendent Earl Lennard, a Republican, to the Hillsborough Supervisor of Elections post. It has been vacant since newly elected supervisor Phyllis Busanksy, a Democrat who beat incumbent (R) Buddy Johnson, died suddently last month.

“Earl understands the importance of elections in our democracy and has a fundamental sense of fairness,” Governor Crist said in a release.  “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, lives in Riverview and has served as a classroom teacher and administrator before being appointed as superintendent, where he served from 1996 to 2005.  An educator for 42 years, he was named Florida Superintendent of the Year in 2003 by the Florida Association of District School Superintendents. 
 
He earned bachelor’s and doctoral degrees from the University of South Florida and a master’s from the University of Florida. His term will end November 8, 2010.

Comments

[Crist Must Go]

Looks like the governor has taken the easy way out again. By appointing Dr. Lennard, he satisfies his base by appointing a Republican. By appointing Dr. Lennard, he satisfies the Democrats (his other base) by appointing someone with zero political clout, which will allow the Democrats to poach the seat in 2010.

[WTF]

With all due respect to Dr. Earl Lennard, why did the Governor not appoint someone who would stand a chance of re-election?

[kevin]

Earl Lennard is a great choice. He is a proven leader. Not overly partisan but a quiet hands on doer. He will do a fine job either as a placeholder until the next election or become the heir apparent to the office for the future. The Governor got this one totally right.

[Did Lennard switch parties for this job?]

Wasn't Lennard a Democrat when he was superintendent? When did he switch parties?

[You have got to be kidding!]

Its a Democrat masquarading as a Republican? NO, not Dr. Lennard--Governor Crist!!!

[Crist - Yellow Dog RINO]

Put all of the spin you want on the appointment, it was a poor one. It was a coward's political solution.

[Deb from Valrico]

he switched to Republican when he was eyeing the Senate Seat which Storms won. Now we have another double dipper making tons of money off the back of all the taxpayers. Way to go Gov!!

[good show]

Ready for a primary and tough general, Mr. Lennard?

[Jimmy from Plains]

Anyone else made uncomfortable by the St. Petersburg Times allowing a reporter who once worked for Crist to now report on his administration?

[Isobel]

Screw having anyone with any type of experience with elections...that would be too obvious.

[...]

Amen Isobel!

[darn shame]

you have got to be kidding me.

[Disgusting...]

This is a farce. Charlie is a wimp among wimps. He didn't have the guts to stand up to his own party and respect the will of Hillsborough County's voters. Well, this won't be forgotten in 2010, neither in the Supervisor's race OR the US Senate race. Charlie... You are such a douche nozzle!!!

[Boca Grande]

Disgusting: do really think the rabble on the left will be aroused by this appointment? They get angry when the wind blows. In 2010 the wind will be blowing another direction.

[Blow this, Boca!]

What the hell is wrong with you people? Is there anyone out there under the age of old that can do this job? For God’s sake, does either Party care anymore about service, or is it just about the W&L columns.

Much due respect to the late Mrs. Buzanski, but the D’s were so consumed with winning rather than service that they pushed a 70+ year old person with a terminal decease on us. Now the R’s go for another AARP’r just to gain some votes for a failed R Governor’s bid for a Senate seat he no more deserves than does Osama Been Forgotten.

Folks…. I’m telling ya… they all suck and they all need to go if we’re to save this country from certain ruin.

[CRIST=SPECTER]

Chuckles the Clown appointing a Republican to any vacancy is the greatest barometer to determine if there is a Republican Primary on the horizon.

[kevin]

just listen to all of your hypocritical babble. Who cares if Lennard is a D or an R. It should be about fair elections period the end. Under Lennard's leadership Hillsborough school district became the gold standard and remains so today. All of you partisan hacks can go spin to the crows come home to roost but this was a good choice. It does not upset the political balance of power.

[terminator]

what a HORRIBLE pick!
Lennard wasn't even a capable school superintendent.
the guy knows absolutely NOTHING about running an elections office.

Crist is a total POS. I hope Rubio and Meek take him out. The guy has got to go.

[...]

Kevin - you are right, it shouldn't be about being a democrat or republican... it should have been about being capable of and knowing about elections... so they could hit the job running... not spending half the time to become familiar with the ins and outs of the elections process...

[kevin]

I will take leadership anyday over some knowledge about a voting machine or even election law. Lennard will be just fine. And since it is a done deal wouldnt it be nice if everyone would hold their venom and give him a chance. If he screws up then everyone can pounce on him and the Governor.

[Joe]

HillsCo schools = gold standard? That's a hoot! If I had school age children, I would move them out of Florida in a heartbeat. Once more, we get something other than what we voted for. Thanks for nothing, Charlie.

[Susan S]

Busansky with a terminal disease? Sorry to disappoint, but she didn't have a terminal disease anymore than you or I might have. Of course, we all have a terminal disease at some point. Unless someone has been hacking into medical records and knows something she and her family didn't know, then I would advise you to stop making stupid accusations.

And if you want to complain about 70+ year olds, then I would also suggest that your party stop nominating the likes of Ronald Reagan and John McCain.

Dems obsessed with winning? You betcha! Thank goodness we have/had President Obama, Phyllis Busansky, and other good Democrats to rescue us from the disastrous policies and incompetence of George Bush, and the party of southern white men, including that perfect Jeb Bush-appointed specimen Buddy Johnson.

[Mapplethorpe]

Susan, when are you going to get over the fact that you weren't born a man?

[Susan S]

Mapplethorpe,
I wear your insults as a badge of honor.

[Mapplethorpe]

Well played, Susan. Well played!

[Family values, my patoot]

And in hometown St. Petersburg, Crist is backing a pay-day loan shark with a couple of out-of-wedlock children.

[Obvious]

"I will take leadership anyday over some knowledge about a voting machine or even election law."

demand both you douchebag

[Brinkley]

"Busansky with a terminal disease? Sorry to disappoint, but she didn't have a terminal disease anymore than you or I might have. Of course, we all have a terminal disease at some point. Unless someone has been hacking into medical records and knows something she and her family didn't know, then I would advise you to stop making stupid accusations."

what did she die from? do we know yet?

[Susan S]

We probably won't know because I don't think an autopsy was performed. My guess would be a heart attack. And, btw, that could happen to any of us at any time.

[Tampa Bay Dem]

Bad choice, Charlie. We can only hope that Earl Lennard has the wisdom to continue the policies that Phyllis Busansky began. In her short time as SOE she laid some some strong groundwork for the office. It will be a disservice to the voters of Hillsborough County to not build on what Phyllis started.

[Carl]

Great choice Gov Crist!!

[voxy]

now we all know that with earlthepearl in place charlie can get WHATEVER OFFICE HE WANTS just like jebby and georgie with pammy.

[voxy]

she died of M U R D E R.

wake UP, people .. even an eleven year old said .>> THEY ARE ALL IN HOTELS. They're ALL OUT OF TOWN. THEY ARE ALL ALONE. ummm duh .. ummm hmmmm

[sam]

Why in the hell appoint a retied person, appoint a person that needs a job from the workforce....Crist is an idiot !

[Susan S... take your meds, ya toon!]

Susan S is a lunatic and a perfect example of my point. To these moron’s, it’s all about claiming victory for their respective “Party” of nutjobs, and to hell with public service. Busanski was a fine lady to be sure, put too old for the job. That’s not an ageist comment, it’s just plain fact. And Lennard is in the same boat and was just Chuck’s pick for vote pimping.

[Good Lord!]

10:38 Talk about partisan loons. You take the cake.

[Lame]

11:19,

If you could only make a connection to my post with that comment... you just might have a point!

[Lame Duck]

11:32 which post is that, the one where you call Susan S a partisan loon? OK, you're an ageist partisan loon.