New Orange elections supervisor gets tour, advice from his predecessor

Glenton Gilzean is taking over the elections office from Bill Cowles

New Orange County Elections Supervisor Glenton Gilzean and former supervisor Bill Cowles talk to News 6's Mike Holfeld. (Copyright 2024 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved.)

ORLANDO, Fla. – Orange County’s new elections supervisor met with staffers Thursday and got a grand tour of part of the facility from someone who knew it best —former Elections Supervisor Bill Cowles.

News 6 was there as Glenton Gilzean and Cowles met for the first time at the supervisor of elections office on Kaley Street in Orlando.

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Gilzean and Cowles toured the warehouse where the office’s equipment is kept and also sat down to talk about the running of the office.

Cowles, who had been elections supervisor for almost three decades, retired in January. Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Gilzean as Cowles’ replacement until a new supervisor is elected by Orange County voters in November.

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Gilzean had previously served as administrator for the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, which oversees Walt Disney World property. Gilzean told News 6′s Mike Holfeld that he had turned in his resignation, and now it was up to the district’s board to “take the next step.”

Gilzean also told Holfeld that he had no plans on making any changes to the way the elections office works, and wanted to assure the county’s residents that their votes would remain as safe as they were under Cowles.

Gilzean will be formally sworn in as elections supervisor in April.

Gilzean shares more about his plans in an interview with Mike Holfeld, which will air Friday on News 6.

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