Florida Gov. Rick Scott announced Tuesday the appointment of William Burney to the Clay County Board of County Commissioners.
Burney, a 62-year-old Keystone Heights resident, will begin serving April 7 in place of Commissioner Gavin Rollins, who will be on military leave to serve abroad with the Florida National Guard.
“Lt. Col. Burney has a distinguished record of both military and community," Rollins said in a news release from Scott's office, "and I am thankful he is willing to serve in my absence while serving overseas with the National Guard."
How long Rollins is expected to be gone for was unclear Tuesday. A representative from Scott's office told WUFT Tuesday that she was unable to comment but that she would check on the request, and contact information for Burney wasn't immediately available.
Burney served in the Florida Air National Guard for 30 years and finished his service as battle commander for the Southeast United States in 2002. He's now a program developer for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, according to the school's website.
“I am confident that Lt. Col. Burney will do a great job for Clay County families while Commissioner Rollins is serving our country with the Florida National Guard,” Scott said in the release.