Peter Schorsch
It’s no secret that Florida Office of Insurance Regulation chief Kevin McCarty has been in the Rick Scott administration’s crosshairs for some time; we first reported earlier this month that McCarty was on the chopping block as part of a proposed deal with Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater to bring in new leaders at OIR and the Florida Office of Financial Regulation.
But now we are learning that the Scott administration reached out to at least one possible candidate to succeed McCarty well before Scott outlined a desire for “new leadership” at OIR, OFR, and the Department of Business and Professional Regulation.
The Scott administration asked Louisiana Deputy Commissioner of Consumer Advocacy Ron Henderson to interview for McCarty’s spot roughly two weeks ago, Louisiana Insurance Commissioner James Donelon told Adam Cancryn of SNL on Jan. 23. Donelon granted Henderson permission to do the interview, he said, but did not know if he has continued to pursue the job.
SNL’s report confirms our earlier reporting that Henderson is in line to replace McCarty.
“He came to me to advise me that he had been invited to interview, and with my blessing, he said he would indicate that he was interested,” Donelon said. “That was about two weeks ago. It was a while before all the news hit the media last week.”
Last week in a letter to Atwater, Gov. Scott called for reviewing the future of the three state agency heads even as he is catching heat for ousting the head of Florida’s top law enforcement agency, reported John Kennedy of the Palm Beach Post.
“(Atwater) didn’t balk at the idea advanced by Scott of reviewing the future of McCarty, OFR Commissioner Drew Breakspear, and Department of Revenue executive director Marshall Stranburg at the next Cabinet meeting, Feb. 5.”
Atwater said he would welcome having a review “process” in place.
Apparently unbeknownst to Atwater, the Scott administration was already at work attempting to replace McCarty.
By the time Scott sent Atwater that letter, Donelon had already told McCarty during an NAIC event that at least one person was under consideration for his job, reports Cancryn.
“I was in California for the committee assignment meeting last weekend and told Commissioner McCarty that I had been apprised of that,” Donelon said. “I was not lobbying for his removal or replacement, but I did give my deputy the approval to go forward.”
Donelon could not confirm whether Henderson has actually interviewed yet or whether there are other candidates under consideration. Henderson has served as deputy commissioner of consumer advocacy in Louisiana since 2012.
