Charbel Barakat is no longer serving on the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (CFTOD) board, where he had held the position of Vice Chair. His departure marks the latest change in the board's leadership, and the district has since updated its website to remove his name from the listed members.
Barakat, a former Jeopardy! champion, was appointed to the board by Governor Ron DeSantis on June 1, 2023, replacing Michael Sasso, who resigned after less than four months in the position.
In his place, new appointees John Gilbert and Scott Workman have been added to the board, both with terms expiring on February 26, 2027. The Chair position remains open, with Alexis Yarbrough expected to assume the role pending confirmation by the Florida Senate.
Despite their terms expiring soon, Bridget Ziegler and Ron Peri remain listed as board members, with their seats officially set to expire on February 26, 2025.
Updated CFTOD Board List
- Open – Chair (Presumably to be filled by Alexis Yarbrough) – Term expires 2/26/27
- Brian Aungst, Jr. – Term expires 2/26/27
- Ron Peri – Term expires 2/26/25
- Bridget Ziegler – Term expires 2/26/25
- John Gilbert – Term expires 2/26/27
- Scott Workman – Term expires 2/26/27
The removal of Vice Chair Charbel Barakat marks another shift in leadership within the state-controlled oversight district. Barakat, who was added to the board midway through 2023, served for less than two years before being removed in the latest restructuring.
With the Vice Chair seat now vacant and the Chair position still open, CFTOD leadership continues to transition under Governor DeSantis' appointees. The district, which replaced the Reedy Creek Improvement District in 2023, remains responsible for governing infrastructure and services within Walt Disney World property.
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