ORLANDO, Fla. – On Thursday, Glen Gilzean had just four days on the job as Orange County’s newly-appointed supervisor of elections when he met face-to-face with the man who held the position for nearly three decades.
Bill Cowles, who retired in January, stopped by the county elections office Thursday afternoon to offer some guidance and context to the job Gilzean inherited out of the blue.
“Go out there and learn it in person, Cowles told him as they shook hands. “Meet the poll workers.”
The new job comes less than a year after Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed him administrator of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, or CFTOD, replacing the former Reedy Creek Improvement District.
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“I got the call on Monday,” Gilzean told News 6. “I’m really ecstatic about the opportunity and looking forward to this next chapter.”
Gilzean told News 6 that he never hesitated to accept the position and while he admits he is nervous, he is confident the March primary will be a success.
“I think the biggest challenge is just really focusing on March 19,” Gilzean said, “Making sure the election is the most effective and efficient to date and also implementing my new idea creating new transparency.”
Gilzean told News 6 he will introduce “live streaming” of the primary vote results through a social media platform to offer an extra layer of transparency.
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Gilzean told News 6 he is looking forward to letting that idea “come to fruition” inspired by overflow rooms packed to accommodate residents watching the vote tally on TV monitors.
“The beautiful thing is we have a staff that has well over 400 years of experience,” he said, “So I feel confident this is going to be the best election cycle going forward.”
Gilzean will be walking away from a $400,000 annual salary as administrator of the CFTOD, to take on what has become 18-hour days and a lot to take in.
He told News 6 he has already advised the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board that he is resigning to assume the role of supervisor of elections full-time.
“I’m just really honored that I have this opportunity, " he told News 6.
When asked if he planned to formally announce his intentions to run as a candidate for the office, he laughed and said he is not even thinking about that.
“I’m just focused on getting through the 19th,” He said, “working with the team and making sure March 19 is the best day ever.”
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