The St. Johns River Water Management District Governing Board voted Tuesday to hire its general counsel, Hans G. Tanzler III, as executive director.
Tanzler has served as general counsel since July after serving two years on the governing board.
Tanzler replaces Kirby Green III, who retired Oct. 3 after 10 years as executive director.
Tanzler’s appointment is subject to confirmation by Gov. Rick Scott and the state Senate.
The board search committee, consisting of members Lad Daniels, John Miklos and Maryam Ghyabi, was created in August and held five public meetings to identify the search criteria, according to the district.
The committee evaluated 21 applicants and interviewed its top three candidates.
“Mr. Tanzler brings extensive experience leading large organizations with a well-formulated and fiscally conservative approach,” said board Chairman Leonard Wood in a news release.
Tanzler has been a member of The Florida Bar for more than 30 years. He is a certified public accountant and has been as an assistant U.S. attorney, an Internal Revenue Service attorney, an attorney in private practice and a senior corporate business executive, according to the district.
“I come in with one agenda – to effect good government,” Tanzler said in the news release.
“The district has accomplished much in preserving and protecting our region’s water resour-ces, and I look forward to continuing that work, with additional emphasis on good customer service,” he said.
The district is a regional agency of the state. It is responsible for managing groundwater and surface water resources in all or part of 18 counties in Northeast and East-Central Florida, including Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Brevard, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Indian River, Lake, Marion, Nassau, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Putnam, St. Johns, Seminole and Volusia counties.
It is governed by a nine-member board appointed by Florida’s governor.