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Lennard named Hillsborough's elections supervisor

Tribune file photo by MICHAEL SPOONEYBARGER

Earl Lennard addresses the first graduating class at Ruskin's Lennard High, named in his honor, during commencement exercises June 3 at the Florida State Fairgrounds.

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TBO.com

Published: July 14, 2009

Updated: 07/14/2009 05:21 pm

TAMPA - Gov. Charlie Crist announced today he has chosen former Hillsborough County Public Schools Superintendent Earl Lennard to be county elections supervisor.

Crist chose Lennard, a Republican, to replace Phyllis Busansky, a Democrat, who was elected in November 2008 and died last month. Lennard will fill the position until 2010, at which point he may run for election.

Lennard said Tuesday he'll try to continue Busansky's work in the office, making elections "as near as is humanly possible flawless and where every voter feels confident that their vote was counted."

He said he intends to keep Craig Latimer, hired by Busansky as chief of staff, in that position.

Asked whether he wants to run for election to the office next year, he said, "That is a bridge that we'll have to cross down the road, but I think the citizens would want some continuity."

Lennard, 67, a Hillsborough County native, retired from the county school system in 2005 after 41 years as a teacher and administrator, the last nine as superintendent.

Since then he has worked as an educational consultant and on philanthropic projects including a boys and girls club in his hometown of Riverview.

He said his only mandate from Crist was "that the democratic process be carried out."

Announcing the appointment after a meeting with businessmen in Clearwater, Crist said Lennard "has served the citizens of Hillsborough County very well" and is "the kind of man the people of Hillsborough County will have confidence in … He's a known quantity."

He said party affiliation wasn't among his criteria in making the choice. Some Democrats had said Crist should choose a Democrat to replace Busansky, while Republicans said Crist should stick with his own Republican Party.

It was a ticklish political question for Crist, because he's running for the U.S. Senate and faces a challenge in the Republican primary from Marco Rubio, who's appealing to the conservative side of the party.

Although he's a Republican, Lennard does not have a reputation as intensely partisan.

He was registered as a Democrat while serving as school superintendent, a non-partisan, appointed job. After he retired, Lennard flirted with entering politics and changed his registration to Republican, saying he felt more comfortable with the party.

He ran for a state senate seat from the conservative, mostly GOP eastern side of the county in 2005, but then withdrew from the race.

Crist interviewed Lennard and five others July 10 in Tampa, from among a pool of 22 applicants. They included Latimer and former state Rep. Bob Henriquez, both Democrats; state Sen. Victor Crist, who is not related to the Gov., and former state Rep. Sandy Murman, both Republicans, and various local political activists.

Appearing at a news conference with Lennard Tuesday, Latimer said he has "the utmost respect for Mr. Lennard and his ability."

"I think it will be good for the community all the way around,' he said of the appointment.

The two said they have worked together in the past when the Sheriff's Office, where Latimer was an administrator, dealt with the school system on youth issues.

During Lennard's nine years as superintendent, the district grew from 13th to ninth largest in the United States. He oversaw construction of 65 new schools and the major renovation of 63 others.

Students' performance on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test improved in all demographic groups during Lennard's tenure. He oversaw implementation of the magnet school program and expansion of the school choice program.

Reporter William March can be reached at (813) 259-7761.

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