Governor Crist Appoints George Sheldon As DCF Interim Secretary

 

Above: George Sheldon was tapped today by Governor Crist to serve as Florida Department of Children and Families Interim Secretary.

In a statement released today, August 15, 2008, Florida Governor Charlie Crist appointed Department of Children and Families (“DCF”) Assistant Secretary George Sheldon to serve as interim DCF Secretary after today’s resignation of Secretary Bob Butterworth.

Mr. Sheldon, who was appointed as DCF Assistant Secretary for Operations in February, 2007, previously had served Mr. Butterworth as the former Deputy Attorney General for Central Florida, and was formerly the Associate Dean for Student and Alumni Affairs at St. Thomas University in Miami. Mr. Sheldon’s public service career began in 1967 with a position at the Florida Department of State. He then held a number of positions in state government including serving as leader of then-Governor-Elect Reubin O.D. Askew’s transition team, and prior to that, was a two-term State Representative in the Florida House. As a state legislator, Mr. Sheldon served on the Committee on Health and Rehabilitative Services and was integral in the reorganization of the agency now known as DCF.

In 1980 he was voted the Most Valuable Member of the Legislature by the Florida press. Among his other notable achievements: He served 20 years on the Board of Directors of the Advocacy Center for Persons with Disabilities, co-authored the legislation that created the Community Care for the Elderly with then Governor Bob Graham, and chaired the House Committee on Nursing Home Reform.

Sheldon holds bachelor’s and law degrees from Florida State University.

Governor Crist’s statement is below.

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Statement by Governor Charlie Crist Regarding the Departure of Department of Children and Families Secretary Bob Butterworth

“Today, we say thank you and best wishes to Bob Butterworth, who has worked tirelessly for the past 19 months on behalf of Florida’s children and families. The Department of Children and Families is a more open place because of Bob and his determination to serve families with urgency and care.

“For 35 years he has dedicated himself to serving the people of Florida — as a sheriff, as a judge, and as Attorney General. He served as our top law enforcement official for 16 years, making him not just the longest-serving in Florida history but the best. He is the definition of a true public servant. He is a role model for all of us, and he will be missed.

“Also, today I am appointing George Sheldon to serve as interim Secretary of the Department of Children and Families. George has served as assistant secretary under Bob and will continue the hard work of his predecessor.”

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