Peter Schorsch
As I meet with dozens of Florida lawmakers, legislative staffers, and lobbyists in Tallahassee, inevitably the question is raised, “What is going on over there?” There being the Governor’s Office and its inexplicable courses of action as it struggles through the start of Rick Scott’s second term.
What I say to these politicos is, yes, Scott Chief of Staff Melissa Sellers is under fire from all quarters, but that doesn’t mean she’s in trouble with Rick Scott.
Sellers ain’t Erin Isaacs and Scott ain’t Charlie Crist. Just because Steve Bousquet and Mike Fasano and state Rep. Mark Pafford share the same basic opinion that Sellers is out of her depths doesn’t mean Scott thinks that.
In fact, because the same people who are now targeting Sellers have previously targeted Scott, the current situation may actually be endearing Sellers to Scott.
Moreover, what lawmakers, staffers, and lobbyists may need to realize is that Sellers is now a cornered rat with few options left other than to claw your freakin’ eyes out.
Hence, the Tuesday Night Massacre.
Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater on Tuesday night sent a letter to Scott demanding a reset in the appointment of the new Florida Department of Law Enforcement commissioner.
“A professional search would give the residents of Florida a full and complete understanding of the qualifications of the person selected to lead one of the state’s largest law enforcement agencies, and help reassure the employees of FDLE that the agency’s leadership will be in the hands of a highly qualified individual with an unimpeachable reputation,” wrote Atwater.
Scott quickly sent a letter back to Atwater defending his decision to force Gerald Bailey to resign. He said government should “frequently change leadership to bring in new ideas and fresh energy.”
“There are no lifetime appointments in executive government — just as there are no guaranteed lifetime jobs in the private sector outside of government,” wrote Scott.
The governor said he would not support a new search for an FDLE commissioner because it would create “unnecessary turmoil” within the organization. But Scott also said that he wants the Cabinet to consider replacing three other agency officials, including the state’s insurance commissioner, Kevin McCarty. SPB was first to report that McCarty’s job was on the chopping block.
Driving the McCarty situation, multiple sources inside the offices of the CFO, Office of Insurance Regulation, and Office of Financial Regulation say, is pressure on the Scott administration from prominent lobbyist Fred Karlinsky, one of the Scott campaign’s top fundraising bundlers and co-chairs of Scott’s second inaugural.
The bottom line here is that the Scott administration has responded to the deafening criticism of its ousting of a respected law enforcement official by suggesting further heads roll, one of whom is facing the guillotine at the suggestion of a key campaign contributor.
That’s just rich.
It’s not clear if other Cabinet officials will support Atwater’s move to start a new search.
Before Atwater sent his letter, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam said he too was dissatisfied with how Bailey was forced out, but he would only say that he was “exploring his options.” Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement issued prior to the release of Atwater’s letter that her office was “reviewing the matter.”
—
Material from The Associated Press was used in this post.
