DeSantis Appointees: Saving Florida, One Drop at a Time

Governor Ron DeSantis just dropped a bombshell that’s got Floridians buzzing. With the stroke of a pen, he’s appointed Thomas Hurley and Robert Spottswood Jr., while reappointing Charlette Roman, to the South Florida Water Management District. This isn’t some sleepy bureaucratic shuffle. It’s a full-on power play to secure the state’s water future, and it’s about time someone took the reins with real backbone. These aren’t ivory-tower elites or political cronies; they’re hands-on leaders who’ve built careers on results, not rhetoric.

Florida’s water woes aren’t news to anyone who’s lived here longer than a season. Floods swamp streets, droughts parch crops, and the Everglades fights to breathe under the weight of urban sprawl. DeSantis isn’t waiting for federal handouts or endless studies to fix it. He’s stacking the deck with people who get it, people who’ve proven they can handle big challenges without blinking. This move signals a rejection of the hand-wringing paralysis that’s bogged down water policy for too long.

Take Thomas Hurley. He’s the Chairman and CEO of Becker Holding Corporation, a guy who’s climbed the ladder by knowing how to make tough calls. He’s not just a suit; he’s served on the Miami Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta and rolled up his sleeves for the Boys and Girls Club of Martin County. Then there’s Robert Spottswood Jr., president of multiple companies, including Spottswood Companies and Keystar Construction. He’s already neck-deep in environmental stewardship, sitting on boards like the Nature Conservancy and the Fish and Wildlife Foundation of Florida. These aren’t amateurs; they’re heavy hitters with skin in the game.

Charlette Roman rounds out the trio with a resume that reads like a patriot’s dream. A U.S. Army veteran and War College grad, she’s transitioned from battlefields to boardrooms without missing a beat. Her time as a Marco Island Councilor and her work with Northrop-Grumman prove she’s got the grit to tackle complex systems. Together, this crew brings a blend of corporate savvy, environmental know-how, and military discipline. That’s the kind of team you want when the stakes are this high.

South Florida’s water crisis isn’t some distant threat; it’s here, knocking on the door. Rising sea levels and real estate booms have turned flood control into a daily headache. Miami-Dade County’s drainage system alone needs a $7 billion facelift just to keep up. Meanwhile, the Everglades restoration, backed by DeSantis’s $3.5 billion pledge in 2023, is a lifeline for an ecosystem on the brink. Hurley, Spottswood, and Roman aren’t stepping into a cushy gig; they’re walking into a fight. Their private-sector chops and public-service records suggest they’ll prioritize action over endless debate.

Contrast that with the naysayers who’d rather drown in red tape than drain a swamp. Some argue these appointments centralize too much power under the governor, crying foul over a supposed erosion of checks and balances. But that’s a tired excuse from folks who’d rather stall than solve. Florida’s water districts have been tangled in bureaucracy since the 1972 Water Resources Act tried to fix things. DeSantis is cutting through the noise, putting people in place who can deliver. If that ruffles feathers, so be it; results trump feelings every time.

This isn’t DeSantis’s first rodeo. He’s been reshaping Florida’s governance with a steady hand, from stacking the Board of Governors with no-nonsense appointees to pushing veterans into public roles through the Veterans’ Preference Act. Roman’s military background fits that mold perfectly, echoing a proud tradition dating back to 1947 when Florida first codified its commitment to vets. Hurley and Spottswood, with their corporate and conservation creds, align with a growing trend of private-sector leaders stepping up to fix public problems, like PepsiCo’s water positivity push by 2030. It’s a playbook that works.

History backs this up. Florida’s water management districts were born out of necessity in 1972, not political gamesmanship. The Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, decades in the making, proves that bold action, not timid compromise, moves the needle. DeSantis’s picks aren’t here to appease every stakeholder; they’re here to protect taxpayers, preserve resources, and get the job done. Anyone who thinks otherwise is stuck in the past, clutching pearls while the state floods or fries.