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Should surplus money from the Orange County Supervisor of Elections be used for a new college scholarship fund?
Supervisor of Elections Glen Gilzean said he is investing in the next generation of voters, but Orange County Mayor Jerry Deming is questioning whether it’s an appropriate use of taxpayer dollars.
According to the contract shared with WESH 2 News, the elections supervisor would spend $2.1 million for “The Glen Gilzean, Orange County Supervisor of Elections, Promise of the Future Scholarship Fund.”
The scholarships would be made available to Class of 2025 graduates from Jones and Evans high schools who plan to study cybersecurity at Valencia College or Orange Technical College.
“During the District 5 election, less than 11 percent of people turned out in that same area,” Gilzean said, “so this is a way to combat that voting desert while simultaneously creating lifelong voters.”
To qualify for the scholarships, the students must be registered or pre-registered to vote.
“In my opinion, it is inappropriate for Mr. Gilzean to use taxpayer funds to name a scholarship fund after himself,” Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said in a statement. “He certainly should not have pledged unused funds from his FY 23-24 budget for the purpose of establishing a scholarship fund in his name at Valencia College. Instead, the funds should have been returned to Orange County Government.”
Gilzean said he is open to changing the name of the scholarship fund.
“If people are stuck on a name, I don’t care about the name,” Gilzean said. “What I care about is young people getting an opportunity of a lifetime, but more importantly tying it back to the mission of this office, increasing voter turnout, increasing voter education and what better way to do it with our kids.”
Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Gilzean to serve as Orange County’s Supervisor of Elections in March after longtime Supervisor Bill Cowles abruptly resigned. Gilzean decided not to run for reelection.
Orange County School Board Member Karen Castor Dentel is set to become Gilzean’s replacement after her victory on election night.
“Orange County provided the elections office with taxpayer dollars to fulfill the mission of safe, secure, and well-run elections,” Castor Dentel told WESH 2 News. “I’m not sure how those tax dollars can be redirected to pay for certain students’ college tuition.”
Gilzean said the money for the scholarship fund is coming from the $5 million his office saved since he became the elections supervisor.
According to the director of Orange County’s Office of Budget and Management, surplus funding is typically used to increase general fund reserves, which are used for unplanned needs such as hurricanes.
An Orange County spokesperson said officials are still reviewing the elections supervisor’s new scholarship program.
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