Florida - Wednesday March 1, 2023: Governor has appointed the following 5 people to the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, which will replace the current Reedy Creek Improvement District.
The Reedy Creek Improvement District was the governing jurisdiction and special taxing district covering the land on which the Walt Disney World Resort was built. However on Monday the Governor signed House Bill (HB) 9-B, ending Disney's self-governing status and the special privileges provided to Walt Disney World under the Reedy Creek Improvement District.
Martin Garcia - Garcia has been appointed chairman of the board. He is from Tampa where he practiced law and served as partner in two premier law firms. Additionally, Garcia owned and operated a successful private equity investment firm and served on the board of a NASDAQ and three New York Stock Exchange companies.
Bridget Ziegler - Ziegler, of Sarasota, serves on the Sarasota School Board and is the Director of School Board Programs at The Leadership Institute. Prior to her current role, Ziegler has over a decade of experience in commercial insurance working with two of the largest global risk and insurance brokerage firms.
Brian Aungst Jr. - Aungst, of Clearwater, is an attorney and shareholder at the law firm of Macfarlane Ferguson and McMullen, P.A. Aungst has previously served as the Chairman of the Pinellas County Commission Redistricting Committee and has a growing land use law practice where he has gotten approval for hotels, condominiums, affordable housing developments, and the redevelopment of the Clearwater Marine Aquarium.
Michael A. Sasso - Sasso, of Orlando, is the Managing Partner of Sasso and Sasso, P.A. His practice focuses on election law and complex business and construction litigation. Sasso was also appointed to the Ninth Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission, was subsequently elected its chair, and now serves on the Sixth District Court of Appeal Judicial Nominating Commission. He also serves as a commissioner of the Public Employees Relations Commission and as a trustee of Valencia State College.
Ron Peri - Peri, of Orlando, is the Chairman and CEO of The Gathering USA. Peri was also founder, Chairman, and CEO of the airline software company Radixx International, Inc. after serving as Vice President and CTO of AirTran Airways.
These appointments are subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.