Jim Rosica
In a brief conference call Friday, the Governor and Cabinet agreed to accept applications to become the next commissioner of the Office of Financial Regulation (OFR) from next Monday through June 22.
Depending on who applies, Scott and Cabinet members — CFO Jimmy Patronis, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam and Attorney General Pam Bondi — will conduct public interviews and select a new commissioner as early as June 27.
Patronis, Gov. Scott’s friend and political ally, recently told outgoing OFR Commissioner Drew Breakspear he “no longer ha(d) confidence” in Breakspear’s ability to lead the office, which acts as the state’s watchdog for the financial industry.
Breakspear eventually said he was resigning effective June 30, the last day of the state’s fiscal year, to “ensure a smooth transition.”
Beginning in 2015, Breakspear was one of three agency heads in Scott’s crosshairs to replace, including now-former Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty and former Department of Revenue executive director Marshall Stranburg. He quit in December 2015, followed by McCarty in January 2016.
