Gov. Charlie Crist today named former Hillsborough schools superintendent Earl Lennard, a Republican, to the Hillsborough Supervisor of Elections post. It has been vacant since newly elected supervisor Phyllis Busanksy, a Democrat who beat incumbent (R) Buddy Johnson, died suddently last month.

“Earl understands the importance of elections in our democracy and has a fundamental sense of fairness,” Governor Crist said in a release.  “Dr. Lennard has served the Hillsborough County community well, both as superintendent and as a community leader, and I am confident he will once again serve the people of Hillsborough County well.”
 
Lennard, 67, lives in Riverview and has served as a classroom teacher and administrator before being appointed as superintendent, where he served from 1996 to 2005.  An educator for 42 years, he was named Florida Superintendent of the Year in 2003 by the Florida Association of District School Superintendents. 
 
He earned bachelor’s and doctoral degrees from the University of South Florida and a master’s from the University of Florida. His term will end November 8, 2010.