Gov. DeSantis reappoints Robert Cortes to Seminole State College Board

Gov. Ron DeSantis has reappointed Robert Cortes to serve on the Seminole State College District Board of Trustees.

Cortes’ reappointment requires Senate confirmation.

Cortes, who is the board’s Chair, was first appointed at the school in 2019 by DeSantis.

If his reappointment is approved, Cortes would continue to lead at the state college that serves about 24,000 students and just celebrated its 60th anniversary last year.

The college gives out associate’s and bachelor’s degrees as well as workforce certifications at its four campuses in Sanford/Lake Mary, Oviedo, Heathrow and Altamonte Springs.

“Thanks for your ongoing support and advocacy for Seminole State, Trustee @CortesBob,” the school said on X. “Congratulations on your reappointment to our board!”

Cortes, a former representative and ex-Longwood Mayor, is currently Senior Administrator for the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office and the Owner and Founder of Cortes Towing Service, DeSantis’ press release said Friday.

Cortes told the Orlando Sentinel how his political career started.

“When he ran for Longwood City Commission in 2009, he said, it wasn’t because he had a passion for politics,” the Orlando Sentinel reported in 2020. “Instead, Cortes, owner of a towing and shuttle service, said he wanted to help other small business owners weather the Great Recession. He eventually became the city’s mayor.”

When he was elected, Cortes became the first Mayor of Puerto Rican descent in Seminole County, according to his biography on the Seminole State College’s website.

“He was named one of the 25 Most Influential Hispanics by the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando,” the bio also said.

Cortes, a Republican, was then elected to higher office and represented House District 30, which covered north-central Orange and south-central Seminole counties, including parts of Altamonte Springs, Casselberry, Maitland, Eatonville and Winter Park. 

He served two terms until he lost in 2018 and 2020, both times to Democrat Joy Goff-Marcil.