We reported in Tuesday's paper that Kevin Tynan will be the only Republican on the previously all-Democratic Broward School Board, where seats are nonpartisan but observers know board members' political affiliations anyway.
Gov. Charlie Crist appointed Tynan Monday to replace suspended board member Beverly Gallagher, arrested last month in a federal corruption sting. Gallagher has pleaded not guilty.
Many South Florida Republicans were thrilled with the announcement — including U.S. Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart of Miami, whom Tynan had listed as a reference on his School Board application.
"Kevin has an exemplary history of service," Diaz-Balart told The Miami Herald in an e-mail message Monday. "The Broward School Board will be well served by his experience, commitment and talent."
Crist chose Tynan over more than 35 other people who had applied for the position.
Tynan, a lawyer with no education background, sent his kids to parochial school because "being a nice Irish Catholic, I thought it was good for my children to get the same Catholic education I got," he said Monday. Tynan went to Catholic school in New Jersey until he was 15 before moving to Miami and graduating from a public school, Hialeah-Miami Lakes Senior High.
He said he is not concerned with being the lone Republican on the School Board, saying Broward members of the GOP are used to being in the minority.
"I'm used to being the one of anything," he said, laughing.
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