DeSantis says Persons-Mulicka is leading candidate for Supervisor of Elections position
Governor Ron DeSantis said today that State Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka “is the leader in the clubhouse” to be the next Lee County Supervisor of Elections.
The office has been vacant since January, when Lee County Supervisor of Elections Tommy Doyle retired.
Lee County Board of County Commissioners Chairman Cecil Pendergrass applied to the governor’s office for the position in December. Pendergrass, who is running for re-election this November for his seat on the county commission, said he was still interested in the supervisor of elections post. He cited his experience working on the county elections canvassing board.
“If the governor calls on me to accept that position, I would be honored and excited to step in,” Persons-Mulicka said. Persons-Mulicka said “election integrity” was an important priority for her and “to make sure every ballot that is cast is counted.”
Pendergrass said he had more experience having worked on the elections canvassing board as a county commissioner. “I am still interested in the position. I am the only one who, if appointed, has no conflicts of interest,” Pendergrass said. Pendergrass is a longtime county commissioner and a retired City of Fort Myers Police Department officer.
Persons-Mulicka is married to Lee County Commissioner David Mulicka and is the daughter of School District of Lee County School Board Chair Armor Persons. Mr. Persons is up for re-election this November.
Persons-Mulicka also works for the Fort Myers law firm of Strayhorn & Persons-Mulicka.
DeSantis cited the work of Persons-Mulicka on an election integrity law and for sponsoring a redistricting bill that was sought by DeSantis that will redraw congressional district lines. Persons-Mulicka also led the passage in the state house of the “Heartbeat Protection Act” in 2023, a controversial abortion bill that restricts most abortions to within six weeks of a pregnancy.
To reach Nathan Mayberg, please email nmayberg@breezenewspapers.com