Gov. DeSantis appoints judge to take over Florida's top election post Laurel Lee replaced Secretary of State Michael Ertel
Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Circuit Judge Laurel M. Lee to take over Florida's top election post.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Gov. Ron DeSantis is appointing a circuit judge to replace Mike Ertel, Florida's top election official who abruptly resigned last week.
DeSantis announced Monday that Laurel Lee will replace Secretary of State Michael Ertel. Ertel resigned last Thursday after the Tallahassee Democrat newspaper obtained photos from a 2005 party where he was dressed in blackface while posing as a Hurricane Katrina victim. The photo was taken several months after Ertel had become election supervisor for Seminole County.
Florida's Republican governor said he accepted Ertel's resignation to avoid getting "mired" in controversies. Last year, DeSantis defeated Democrat Andrew Gillum in a bitter race with racial overtones.
Lee has been a judge in Hillsborough County since 2013. She is married to State Sen. Tom Lee.
Laurel Lee has previously worked as both a federal prosecutor.
Copyright 2019 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved.
Rollins College student arrested after rifle, ammunition found on school property, police say ▶ 1:23
Rollins College student arrested after rifle, ammunition found on school property, police say
Disney World property employee accused of stealing hundreds of dollars using guest’s checks ▶ 0:44
Disney World property employee accused of stealing hundreds of dollars using guest’s checks
‘Breaking Bad on steroids:’ Florida sheriff details seizure of 92,000 pounds of drugs, arsenal of weapons ▶ 0:57
‘Breaking Bad on steroids:’ Florida sheriff details seizure of 92,000 pounds of drugs, arsenal of weapons
Orlando pastry chef brings Brazilian flavors to Food Network’s ‘Holiday Baking Championship’ ▶ 1:03
Orlando pastry chef brings Brazilian flavors to Food Network’s ‘Holiday Baking Championship’
🌳Discover the Orlando Tree Trek Adventure Park: Family-friendly aerial adventure minutes from Disney ▶ 1:16
🌳Discover the Orlando Tree Trek Adventure Park: Family-friendly aerial adventure minutes from Disney
Tavares eyes fines, permits for garage sale violations ▶ 0:48
Tavares eyes fines, permits for garage sale violations
Central Florida’s newest Trader Joe’s is officially open!🛒✨ ▶ 0:48
Central Florida’s newest Trader Joe’s is officially open!🛒✨
A Door Dash driver uses the 5-second rule on some unknowing customers. It’s caught on a doorbell camera. ▶ 1:26
A Door Dash driver uses the 5-second rule on some unknowing customers. It’s caught on a doorbell camera.
Secret Service launches crackdown on EBT fraud, targets credit card skimmers ▶ 0:35
Secret Service launches crackdown on EBT fraud, targets credit card skimmers
Port Canaveral now the most-visited cruise terminal in the world, leaders announce ▶ 0:47
Port Canaveral now the most-visited cruise terminal in the world, leaders announce
1 injured in Sanford house fire ▶ 0:47
1 injured in Sanford house fire
Most powerful rocket ever made coming to KSC ▶ 0:59
Most powerful rocket ever made coming to KSC
Cyber Monday shifts to Giving Tuesday as Salvation Army to host world’s largest red kettle at Cranes Roost Park ▶ 0:50
Cyber Monday shifts to Giving Tuesday as Salvation Army to host world’s largest red kettle at Cranes Roost Park
Who would do a thing like this? Enormous Christmas bulbs missing from downtown Melbourne display ▶ 0:40
Who would do a thing like this? Enormous Christmas bulbs missing from downtown Melbourne display
SunRail expands late-night service with 2 new trains. Here’s what to know ▶ 1:04
SunRail expands late-night service with 2 new trains. Here’s what to know
Amazon in Orlando expects almost double the packages for Cyber Monday ▶ 0:41
Amazon in Orlando expects almost double the packages for Cyber Monday
‘Stand Your Ground’ cited after fatal Seminole County shooting stems from apparent road rage ▶ 0:49
‘Stand Your Ground’ cited after fatal Seminole County shooting stems from apparent road rage
A Door Dash driver uses the 5-second rule on some unknowing customers. It’s caught on a doorbell camera. ▶ 1:26
A Door Dash driver uses the 5-second rule on some unknowing customers. It’s caught on a doorbell camera.
Healthcare relief for thousands of Seniors in The Villages ▶ 0:30
Healthcare relief for thousands of Seniors in The Villages
‘Just feels magical:’ How Park Avenue in Winter Park gets its holiday glow-up ▶ 0:26
‘Just feels magical:’ How Park Avenue in Winter Park gets its holiday glow-up
Warm start to week before Thanksgiving cooldown in Central Florida. Here’s the timing ▶ 0:59
Warm start to week before Thanksgiving cooldown in Central Florida. Here’s the timing
‘The Midnight Stalker:’ Mystery surrounds masked person leaving wood, money on Florida front porches ▶ 0:58
‘The Midnight Stalker:’ Mystery surrounds masked person leaving wood, money on Florida front porches
Shots fired at Deltona home after attempted break-in, deputies say ▶ 0:45
Shots fired at Deltona home after attempted break-in, deputies say
Sisters find mother’s Ocala apartment emptied days after her death ▶ 0:29
Sisters find mother’s Ocala apartment emptied days after her death
16-year-old stepbrother ‘is a suspect’ in Titusville teen’s death on cruise ship, court documents show ▶ 0:26
16-year-old stepbrother ‘is a suspect’ in Titusville teen’s death on cruise ship, court documents show
Previous photo Next photo 