John Mitten is returning to the panel he led for two years, courtesy of an appointment by Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Mitten, a self-described “appreciative entrepreneur” who owns a Chick-fil-A franchise in Brooksville, is heading back to the Hernando County Commission, which he chaired from 2018 to 2020.
Former Gov. Rick Scott appointed Mitten to the Hernando Commission in 2017 to serve during then-Commissioner and current state Rep. Jeff Holcomb’s military deployment.
Scott appointed him again to the Hernando Commission in 2018 after former Commissioner Nicholas Nicholson was arrested.
DeSantis appointed him to the Hernando Commission once more Friday, nearly four years after appointing Mitten to the Southwest Florida Water Management District, where he still serves.
Mitten also serves on the Pasco-Hernando State College District Board of Trustees, first by appointment from Scott and currently by appointment from DeSantis.
He fills a vacancy in District 2 created by the resignation of Brian Hawkins, who announced plans in June to resign to run for Holcomb’s House District 53 seat.
Holcomb, in turn, is running for the Hernando Commission’s District 4 seat. He faces incumbent County Commission Chair Jerry Campbell and challengers Marvin Baynham and Jeremy Holmes, all fellow Republicans.
Mitten earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from Florida State University, the Governor’s Office said in a press note announcing the appointment.
He is also a board member at the Florida College System Foundation and has been a member of the Greater Hernando Chamber of Commerce, United Way of Hernando County, YMCA of Hernando County, Hope Children’s Home and Jericho Road Ministries.
A Brooksville Republican, Mitten made 25 political contributions between 2014 and 2025, state records show, including six donations to CFO Blaise Ingoglia totaling $4,850, $1,100 to Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, $750 to Holcomb, $600 to U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody and $500 to DeSantis.
His LinkedIn page shows he previously owned and operated two other Chick-fil-A locations between 1993 and 2003.
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