A top Villages official has won an appointment to another powerful state board.
Gov. Rick Scott has appointed Villages Vice President of Community Relations Gary Lester to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. He succeeds Richard Hanas and Lester’s term will run through Aug. 1, 2022.
Last year, Lester was appointed by the governor to the Florida Constitution Revision Commission.
Lester pastored congregations in Texas, Arkansas and Ohio before moving to Florida in 1991 where he was the founding pastor at North Lake Presbyterian Church. He joined The Villages in 1999.
He is frequently seen making high-profile introductions in The Villages and at ribbon-cutting events. He serves as head of the school board at the Villages Charter School.
His daughter, Elizabeth Lester-Martin is a graduate of the charter school and is a lawyer working for The Villages Holding Company.
