Manatee

MANATEE COUNTY -- Former Manatee County Commission candidate John Colon was among two new members named to the Florida Board of Education. Colon, who narrowly lost to Vannessa Baugh in the District 5 Republican primary last August, is a senior vice president with Wells Fargo Advisors in Sarasota.

Colon replaces embattled Universal Health CEO Akshay Desai of St. Petersburg, who resigned from both the board of education and his post as finace chair for the Florida Republican Party in the wake of regulatory accusations that the HMO submitted misleading financial statements that overstated assets by more than $60 million.

Governor Scott reappointed John Padget of Key West to the X-member board and named also named Dr. Ada G. Armas of Coral Gables to replace Roberto Martinez, who was not eligible to serve another term.  The appointments are subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.

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