GRU Board; And Then There Were None

Gainesville Regional UtilityPhoto byPublic Use

All the members of the Gainesville Regional Utility Authority Board appointed by governor DeSantis have resigned. The governor had recently called for applicants to fill a vacant seat on the board, empty since last year.

A recent lawsuit calling into question the legality of board members serving who were not residents of Gainesville prompted the resignations. The four members were appointed only months ago when DeSantis took over the Utility from the City of Gainesville.

One member, Craig Carter, announced he intends to reapply as he is a city resident.

The GRU Authority was formed in October 2023 after state lawmakers passed a law stripping control of the utility from the Gainesville City Commission. According to the law, the board should have five members appointed by the governor.

Ron DeSantisPhoto byPublic Use