Matt Gaetz is once again a Florida public official with his appointment to the Triumph Gulf Coast Board.
Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez appointed the controversial former Florida congressman to a four-year term to the board that is charged with distributing $1.5 billion in settlement funds from BP over the 2010 oil spill for economic development projects in eight Panhandle counties.
Gaetz announced his appointment on his X.com account on June 23.
“I am returning to public service!,” Gaetz wrote. “Thank you, Speaker Perez, for this appointment. I look forward to the work ahead as we continue improving the lives of Northwest Floridians.”
It’s Gaetz’s first official role since resigning from Congress for his short-lived nomination to be U.S. Attorney General by President Donald Trump. Gaetz ultimately withdrew his name from consideration as he failed to win backing from Republican senators.
Since he left public office, Gaetz has hosted a political talk show called “The Matt Gaetz Show” on the One America News Network.
Gaetz’s father, Sen. Don Gaetz, was the first chairman of the Triumph Gulf Coast Board.
Gaetz’s term on the board begins July 1 and runs for four years.
Jim Little is the City Government Accountability Reporter for the Pensacola News Journal. If you have a news tip, please send it to jwlittle@pnj.com.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Matt Gaetz Former U.S. Rep. appointed to Triumph Gulf Coast Board
