On Wednesday, Gov. Rick Scott announced six appointments to a variety of state regulatory boards, including the replacement for Cyndi Stevenson as St. Johns County commissioner.
Merritt Island Library District Board
Scott began by announcing one appointment and two reappointments to the Merritt Island Library District Board.
Barbara Giel, 63, of Merritt Island, is an assistant at Fidelity Bank of Florida. She fills a vacant seat for a term ending January 17, 2017.
Jerry Abrams, 73, of Merritt Island, is a security officer with McRoberts Maritime Security and a volunteer with the Brevard County Sheriff’s Department Citizens Observer Patrol. His reappointment is for a term ending January 17, 2017.
Kenneth Rivard, 76, of Merritt Island, is a retired airline captain. His reappointment is also for a term ending January 17, 2017.
Scott named James Johns as the newest St. Johns County commissioner. Johns replaces Cyndi Stevenson, who resigned as commissioner to campaign for House District 17. Stevenson won the seat on Tuesday.
Johns, 47, of St. Johns, is the president of Solid Rock Engineering Consultants Inc. His appointment is for a term ending November 15, 2016.
St. Johns River Water Management District
Scott then named Ronald Howse to the St. Johns River Water Management District.
The St. Johns River Water Management District oversees groundwater and surface water resources in 18 counties in northeast and east‑central Florida. Fully included in the District are Brevard, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Indian River, Nassau, Seminole, St. Johns and Volusia. Counties partially in the District are Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Lake, Marion, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola and Putnam.
Howse, 54, of Cocoa, is a self-employed investor, licensed civil engineer, and land surveyor. He currently serves as immediate past chair of the Florida Transportation Commission. Howse’s appointment is for a term ending March 1, 2018.
His appointment is subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.
Acquisition & Restoration Council
Lastly, Scott named Elva Peppers to the Acquisition & Restoration Council, which evaluates and selects state land acquisition projects for the Florida Forever priority list, reviews management plans and land uses for all state-owned conservation lands.
Peppers, 46, of Tallahassee, is a project manager biologist with Florida Environmental and Land Services Inc. She fills a vacant seat for a term ending March 1, 2018.
