Mike Wells Jr., took the helm as chairman of the Pasco County Commission in a vote taken Nov. 28 in New Port Richey.
The District 4 county commissioner replaces Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore who served as chairman during the past year.
The position typically rotates year-to-year among the commissioners.
Duties include leading county commission meetings and being the public face of the board as a whole.
Pasco County Commissioner Ron Oakley, who is in his first term on the board, got the nod from fellow commissioners to be vice chairman.
Wells was elected to the board in 2014 after defeating incumbent Pasco County Commissioner Henry Wilson.
Wells, who is Republican, has filed for re-election in November 2018.
Democrat Brandi Geoit also has filed to run in that race.
Wells’ father is Mike Wells Sr., who served on the county board in the 1980s and later as the county’s property appraiser.
Wells worked for Enterprise Rent-A-Car for many years before becoming a Realtor.
Oakley won the District 1 election in 2016 and replaced former Commissioner Ted Schrader who decided not to seek re-election and, instead, made an unsuccessful run for county property appraiser.
Previously, Oakley served on the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s board as treasurer, vice chairman and chairman.
Published December 6, 2017
