MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. – A Florida appeals court ruled Friday that Governor Ron DeSantis has the authority to appoint a replacement for a Manatee County School Board member who is running for a state House seat.
The ruling stems from a dispute over whether an election should be held in November to fill the seat that will be vacated by Rich Tatem, who submitted his resignation from the board effective November 5th, in accordance with the state’s resign-to-run law.
James Golden, who had attempted to run for the seat in November, argued that an election was necessary based on a law requiring an election if the remainder of the term after Tatem’s resignation exceeded 28 months.
However, the appeals court determined that the 28-month period should be calculated from the effective date of the resignation, not the date it was submitted. This means the remaining term is less than 28 months, allowing DeSantis to appoint a successor who will serve until 2026.
The decision clears the way for DeSantis to fill the school board vacancy, while Tatem continues his campaign for the House District 72 seat.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Android Users: Download our free app to stay up-to-date on the latest news.
Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.