Moody seeks Disney-Reedy Creek records; DeSantis says, ‘you ain’t seen nothing yet’
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As Gov. Ron DeSantis vows to keep fighting Disney, Florida’s chief legal officer is demanding documents from former Reedy Creek Improvement District board members who approved agreements designed to cement the entertainment giant’s control over future development.
DeSantis said during a book signing in Georgia on Thursday that he isn’t done with Disney.
“There’s a lot of little back-and-forths going on now with the state control,” the governor said. “But rest assured — you ain’t seen nothing yet. There’s more to come in that regard.”
Attorney General Ashley Moody’s office is seeking copies of emails, text messages and other correspondence from board members, district employees and other affiliates related to the deals that new board members say tied their hands to manage Disney World’s growth in Florida.
“Please limit your search to documents discussing an intention or goal of circumventing, avoiding, frustrating, mitigating or otherwise attempting to avoid the effects of anticipated actions by the Florida governor and the Florida Legislature,” James Percival, Moody’s chief of staff, wrote in a public records request filed with the district on Thursday.
The attorney general’s office did not explain why it was seeking the records.
But Florida’s Sunshine Law requires that government boards, Reedy Creek included, conduct business in open meetings with reasonable notice given to the public. Board members are not allowed to deliberate in secret.
Florida courts have ruled that violations of the Sunshine Law can void official action. For instance, a judge voided a Volusia County public hospital’s merger in 2011 because it was negotiated and planned during 21 meetings closed to the public.
Reedy Creek board records show public notice was provided for the meetings when the agreements were approved. Disney issued a statement that its deals with the district were “appropriate” and done in accordance with Florida law.
Officials who knowingly violate the law could be found guilty of a second-degree misdemeanor offense, punishable by up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine. An unintentional violation can result in a fine of up to $500.
The Reedy Creek board, which was controlled by Disney, approved a 30-year development plan and restrictive covenants on Feb. 8, as state lawmakers made final a plan for the state to take over Reedy Creek and replace the board with members selected by DeSantis.
The new board members aligned with DeSantis took over on Feb. 27 and discovered the previous board had approved agreements limiting their power. The district is being renamed the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District.
The governor’s office conducted an initial review and found “significant legal infirmities that would render the contracts void as a matter,” said Taryn Fenske, a DeSantis spokeswoman.
The governor’s office hasn’t provided specifics.
DeSantis has clashed with Disney over its opposition to the Parental Rights in Education law, which is known by critics as the “don’t say gay” law. That law limits classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in public schools.
John Guard, chief deputy attorney general, also wrote to the five former board members seeking any communications regarding the agreements on their personal devices.
Moody, a Republican, is an independent constitutional officer elected by voters. She is a close ally of DeSantis and has supported former President Donald Trump.
A Reedy Creek spokeswoman could not be reached for comment Friday.
In the past, the Reedy Creek board was elected by the district’s landowners, which effectively put Disney in charge of the district. State lawmakers changed the law earlier this year to have the governor select the members subject to confirmation from the Florida Senate.
