Florida lawmakers are stepping back into the fight over Gainesville Regional Utilities. A 24-word amendment added to House Bill 1451 would shift control of any regional utilities authority created after January First, 2023, directly to the state — language that applies only to the GRU Authority. Supporters, including state Representative Chad Johnson, say the move simply reinforces what the Legislature intended when it created the authority in 2023 amid concerns over utility debt. Gainesville city leaders argue it overrides more than 70 percent of voters who backed referendums to return control to the city, as court challenges continue. The bill now heads to the full House for consideration.
EDWARD HISTED
Ed launched his radio career in 1975 and has spent more than five decades in the broadcasting industry. During that time, he has served in a wide range of roles including Air Personality, News Director, Sales Manager, Operations Manager, and General Manager at numerous radio stations in various markets across the country. Beyond on-air and management responsibilities, Ed has also worked extensively on the technical side of broadcasting. His background includes RF engineering and information technology, with particular experience configuring digital automation systems and remote voice-tracking platforms used by stations across the country. Ed was also among a select group of industry professionals invited by Google to its California headquarters following the company’s acquisition of Scott Studios. He was one of just 12 broadcasters nationwide chosen to participate in discussions and provide input during the design and rollout of Google’s digital broadcast automation platform. Although the majority of Ed’s career—spanning roughly four decades—was rooted in music radio, he transitioned into news and information programming in 2012. He says the move into spoken-word broadcasting was a natural evolution after decades of experience in multiple areas of the industry.