On Gov. Scott’s recent appointments to the Public Employees Relations Commission

I don’t personally know James “Jim” Bax of Tallahassee.

What I do know about Bax I learned in a news release announcing his appointment by Gov. Rick Scott to the Public Employees Relations Commission, which was created to assist in resolving disputes between public employees and public employers.

Bax is the owner of Bax Enterprises LLC. He previously was Director of the Florida Office of Economic Opportunity from 1967 to 1969, and the Secretary of the Florida Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services from 1969 to 1971. Obviously, he’s an accomplished individual.

Bax is also 79 years old, according to the release from the Governor’s Office.

Recognizing this question will draw fire from the AARP, but hasn’t the septuagenarian Bax had his day in the sun?

Again, I don’t know Bax. Maybe he has spent his entire life dedicated to resolving disputes between public employees and public employers, but we have age limits on certain government officials, like judges, for a reason.

Surely, the Governor’s Office could have found someone to serve on the PERC who was born on this side of man landing on the moon.