A.G. Gancarski
U.S. Rep. Randy Fine is pushing back against claims by Gov. Ron DeSantis surrounding a failed push to install Fine as the President of Florida Atlantic University (FAU).
DeSantis said he was trying to get Fine out of Tallahassee and into the FAU job because legislators wanted Fine gone.
But Fine says that the Governor and his staff lobbied him to consider the move to academia.
“Ronald and his team begged me to apply for about six weeks before I agreed to do it. I suspect it was Ronald who was desperate to get me out of Tally,” Fine tells Florida Politics.
DeSantis said Wednesday that Fine “repels” people and that drove him to consider handing him a presidency of a major university in the state.
“They wanted to get him out of the Legislature, so they asked me to put him up for Florida Atlantic President, and I did. And the whole board would’ve rather resigned than make him President,” he said in Ocala Wednesday.
The Governor’s Office said that statement would serve as their response to Fine’s allegation.
There was a time when messaging was more unified.
In 2023, Fine told the Palm Beach Post that the Governor’s Office had encouraged him to apply for the FAU President job. DeSantis told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel that Fine would be a “good candidate.” Ultimately, Fine didn’t make the list of finalists.
The gig could have been lucrative for Fine. New President Adam Hasner will make at least $1 million a year.
4 comments
Linwood Wright
April 3, 2025 at 12:18 pm
Randy Fine is a pile of dog sh*t in a pig shaped skin suit.
One of the most despicable people in power whoes last name isn’t Trump.
You get what you get
April 3, 2025 at 12:29 pm
A person who in public filings declares a net worth above $30 million isn’t too concerned that you think “the gig could have been lucrative.” The sad thing is too many people just rewarded him with nearly two years of non-representation in Washington.
Mimi Vanderberg-Mustardseed
April 3, 2025 at 2:14 pm
So sad to see this infighting amongst the good people on the right side of things in Florida. Governor DeSantis is a wonderful leader; stern, capable, and the 2nd best possible man to serve as the President of the United States (the best being the current President Trump). Randy Fine is brilliant, and dishy. He would excel in any position, and the people of his district are especially blessed that he will be representing them in DC. Drain the swamp and drill baby drill!
MH/Duuuval
April 4, 2025 at 9:45 am
Yeah, right. You approve Dee offering the lead job at a major Florida university to Fine in order to take Fine out of the Legislature?
DeSantis said Wednesday that Fine “repels” people and that drove him to consider handing him a presidency of a major university in the state.