Governor appoints four lawyers to the Florida Elections Commission 

Governor appoints four lawyers to the Florida Elections Commission 

Gov. Ron DeSantis September 22 appointed four members of The Florida Bar of the to the Florida Elections Commission.

Chad Mizelle

Mizelle is the chief legal officer of Affinity Partners. He currently serves as a commissioner on the 13th Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission. Mizelle earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and his juris doctor from Cornell University.

 Rick Joyce

Joyce is president of Central Florida Mediators, LLC. Active in his community, he has served as a special magistrate in Lake and Alachua counties and served as an adjunct professor at Rollins College. Joyce earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Delaware and his juris doctor from St. Louis University.

 Kymberlee Curry Smith

Smith is an attorney for the City of Ft. Lauderdale Code Enforcement Board. She previously served as a contract attorney for the City of North Miami. Smith earned her bachelor’s degree in business from Florida State University and her juris doctor from Boston College.

 John “Martin” Hayes

Hayes is a partner with Akerman. He is a member of the National Association of Dealer Counsel and is an associate member of the Florida Automobile Dealers Association. Hayes earned his bachelor’s degree in political science and his juris doctor from Florida State University. Hayes currently sits on the commission and is being reappointed.

These appointments are subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.

The Florida Elections Commission is the administrative agency charged with enforcing Chapters 104 and 106 of Florida’s Election Code. The agency is composed of nine appointed commissioners and its staff is administratively housed within the Department of Legal Affairs. However, the FEC is a separate budget entity and is not subject to the control, supervision, or direction of the Attorney General, according to its website.

The purpose of the FEC is to ensure transparency in Florida’s elections. In their capacity as quasi-judicial officers, the commissioners adjudicate cases. They also act as the agency head. Commissioners hire an executive director who supervises a staff that includes legal, investigative, and administrative staff.

The FEC is not permitted to give advisory opinions to anyone and does not have jurisdiction over candidate qualifying issues, how elections are run, or how votes get counted.