Key West officials tonight are expected to appoint Mayor Craig Cates to the Monroe County Tourist Development Council board.

Cates said he is looking forward to serving on the board that decides how resort-tax revenue collected in lodgings throughout the county will be spent to further market the Florida Keys.

He said he has no plans to replace TDC Director Harold Wheeler, a move Cates' predecessor, Morgan McPherson, attempted at the end of 2007.

"I have different views and ideas than my predecessor," Cates said Monday. "I'm not going into the TDC to change them over to my ideas. I think Harold has done a great job."

Sweeping changes would not be advisable during these uncertain economic times, Cates added.

McPherson had said he thought the TDC was spending too much money on advertising, and not enough on capital projects. He also wanted to see more TDC money spent on community upgrades and beautification efforts.

McPherson drew criticism from the county's lodging industry when he suggested using a portion of the bed tax for affordable housing efforts, and tried to lobby state lawmakers to change the laws to allow such expenditures of bed tax revenue. The proposal never happened.

The seat held by McPherson has been vacant since Key West's mayoral election on Oct. 6, according to representatives in the TDC office.

Cates' first TDC meeting will be in December, if his fellow commissioners approve the appointment tonight.

mbolen@keysnews.com