Jenna Buzzacco-Foerster
Gov. Rick Scott has two new members on his leadership team.
On Tuesday, Scott announced Kevin F. Reilly and William N. Spicola will be joining his senior leadership team. Reilly will be Scott’s legislative affairs director, while Spicola has been appointed Scott’s general counsel. Both men start Wednesday.
The announcement is the latest of several staffing changes in the governor’s office. So far this month, Kim McDougal took over as the governor’s chief of staff. She replaces Melissa Sellers, who left Friday to go into the private sector.
Reilly has been deputy staff director to the House Majority Leader’s Office since November 2014. Before that, he was legislative affairs director at the Florida Commission on Offender Review, as well as legislative affairs director at the Florida Department of Elder Affairs. In 2010, he was a regional staff director on Scott’s gubernatorial campaign.
“Kevin has done a great job building relationships throughout his many roles working with the Florida Legislature and has extensive experience navigating Florida’s legislative process,” said Scott in a statement announcing Reilly’s appointment. “He was part of my team when I first ran in 2010, and I am confident he will work hard to continue our goal of making Florida the best place for families to succeed.”
Spicola has been the general counsel at the Department of Business and Professional Regulation since January 2015. During his time with DBPR, Spicola also was director of the Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco, and chief attorney in the Division of Pari-Mutual Wagering. From 2012 until 2013, he was an Assistant State Attorney in the 2nd Judicial Circuit Court of Florida.
“Will has been a great asset to the Department of Business and Professional Regulation and has worked with my office on many key issues affecting our state,” Scott said in a prepared statement. “He has a tremendous amount of legal experience and I look forward to his continued success as the General Counsel in my office. He will be a valuable team member on our mission to make Florida first for jobs.”
Spicola replaces Timothy Cerio, who stepped down Friday to return to private practice.
