Rep. Tommy Gregory accepts post as SCF president

Rep. Tommy Gregory accepted the job as the State College of Florida's seventh president April 5.

While Lakewood Ranch's Gregory, a Republican who holds the District 72 seat, begins his new post July 1, he said he is likely to serve out the rest of his term through the election in November unless he finds the college or his constituents want otherwise.

"I won't run for reelection," Gregory said Friday. "And there isn't the timing to do a special election, so this would be a natural termination anyway."

This is the sixth year of Gregory's political post, and the eight-year term limit would have only allowed him to run for representative one more time.

Gregory was asked if it was hard to leave politics.

"I wouldn't call it hard," he said. "I think these are all ways to serve the community. This is just a much different way."

The announcement, which came after a six-month national search, was made Friday by the State College of Florida's Manatee-Sarasota District Board of Trustees.

“We are very grateful for the hard work of the volunteer search committee, consultant Myers McRae, the College community and all stakeholders who took the time to interview the candidates and provide their feedback,” said SCF District Board of Trustees Chairman Rod Thomson in an SCF release. “We selected Tommy as we believe him to be the best fit to lead SCF into the future.”

The SCF board members said Gregory's leadership was key and they noted in the release, "Tommy is a senior executive leader with 30 years of experience in various leadership positions, including contracting officer, prosecutor, instructor, course director, general counsel, law firm partner and legislator. His leadership skills were developed working with and for military general officers, CEOs, fighter pilots, law enforcement officers, astronauts, governors, and legislators."

Gregory is a commercial litigation attorney in Sarasota and chairman of the Judiciary Committee in the Florida House of Representatives. He served on active duty in the Air Force for 20 years.

“The College has great momentum to continue its successful path forward,” said outgoing SCF President Carol F. Probstfeld. “I look forward to working with Tommy as I transition to retirement and to helping the College community prepare to welcome the new President.”