On June 9, former Marathon Mayor Luis Gonzalez Sr. was appointed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to join the board of the Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority as its District 4 representative. He applied in December to fill the seat of departing board member Toni Appell, whose term expired at the close of 2024.
DeSantis announced the appointment, as well as the reappointment of District 5 representative Nicholas Mulick, in a press release.
“I’m thrilled and honored by the governor’s appointment, and I’m eager to help the aqueduct authority in any way I can,” Gonzalez told the Weekly. “I work to serve the members of this community, and this is another critical way to do so.”
Gonzalez, 57, served two terms on the Marathon City Council beginning in 2018, before terming out in 2024. He is the president of the Mid-Keys Booster Club, a member of the Marathon Elks Lodge and a former Marathon Rotary Club member.
Together with his family, he owns and operates LJ’s Cafe in Marathon. DeSantis’ initial press release identified him as the owner of Gonzalez Brothers Landscaping Inc., though Gonzalez clarified that he has not owned that business for several years.
