TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed a Hillsborough County-based judge to replace Florida's secretary of state, who resigned last week.
- Judge Laurel Lee presided in the civil, domestic relations division
- Replaces Mike Ertel as Florida Secretary of State
- COMPLETE COVERAGE: Florida Government Guide
DeSantis appointed Hillsborough Circuit Judge Laurel Lee, saying she had a steady hand and good judgment.
“She is ready to handle the important elections, administration duties, and cultural responsibilities accorded to this position with a steady hand and good judgement,” DeSantis said in the announcement.
"It's been a very exciting day and I'm very much looking forward to getting to Tallahassee and getting to work," Lee said in an interview with Spectrum News's Angie Angers.
Lee was appointed to the judgeship by former Gov. Scott in 2013. Lee presided in the civil division and the domestic relations division.
Lee is replacing Mike Ertel, the former Seminole County elections supervisor who was appointed Florida secretary of state by DeSantis when he took office. Ertel abruptly resigned last week after pictures surfaced of him at a 2005 Halloween party where he dressed up as a Hurricane Katrina victim, with black face.
"I believe that experience and that knowledge of the law and the constitution and how it works in our state courts and for Floridians is something that will be very useful for me," Lee said.
Lee is the wife of longtime Florida Sen. Tom Lee.