Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaApril 22, 2016

Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater again picked state Rep. Bill Hager and two others to be interviewed for state Insurance Commissioner at next Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting. The decision came in a Thursday email. The current commissioner, Kevin McCarty, plans to leave the post this year. Hager, a former Iowa Insurance Commissioner, is Atwater’s choice but Gov. […]

Jim RosicaApril 20, 2016

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Kevin McCarty is telling his bosses: You need more time? You got it. The state’s outgoing Insurance Commissioner on Wednesday wrote separate but identical letters to Gov. Rick Scott, Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam. He said he would delay his departure to “45 days after my successor […]

Peter SchorschApril 19, 2016

About a month ago, when FloridaPolitics.com offered “The Good, the Bad and the Interesting” of the applicants for the next Insurance Commissioner, we highlighted the legal requirements for the job. They’re high … on purpose. HB 3, passed in Special Session E in 2002, implemented a 1998 constitutional amendment that merged the jobs of Comptroller […]

Jim RosicaApril 18, 2016

Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet now have 67 names to pick from for state Insurance Commissioner. They decided to take more applications for the job after the March 29 Cabinet meeting, setting an April 15 application deadline. Scott and Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater had each favored two different candidates: Retired executive Jeffrey Bragg and state Rep. Bill […]

Jim RosicaMarch 29, 2016

With no clear winner between finalists Jeffrey Bragg and Bill Hager, Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet on Tuesday decided to keep taking applications for state Insurance Commissioner. Scott, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater and Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam agreed to extend the deadline to April 15. The next Cabinet meeting is […]

Jim RosicaMarch 11, 2016

March 11 is not only the final day of the 2016 Legislative Session, but it’s also the last day to apply for state Insurance Commissioner. As of Friday morning, 47 people had applied for the position, but none were “marquee” names. For instance, former state Rep. Tom Grady previously told FloridaPolitics.com he wasn’t interested in the job. […]

Drew WilsonFebruary 24, 2016

A bill that would require insurers to take a more proactive stance on paying out life insurance benefits cleared the Senate Wednesday with a unanimous vote. SB 966, sponsored by Fort Myers Republican Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto, would require insurers to compare their policy rolls with the Social Security Administration’s Death Master File and payout benefits. Current law allows […]

Drew WilsonFebruary 15, 2016

Incumbent Republican Rep. Bill Hager will face a challenger as he goes for his fourth and final term in his House District 89 seat. Nichole Cyr, an accounting clerk for Seminole Gaming, filed to run for the seat as a Democrat on Feb. 4, ensuring Hager won’t skate into another term without a little effort. […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 15, 2016

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Former state Rep. Tom Grady on Monday said although he thinks being Florida Insurance Commissioner would be “an interesting job,” he doesn’t have any plans to try for the position. “I haven’t applied. I don’t expect to apply,” he told FloridaPolitics.com. “It was flattering to hear my name batted about as a leading contender.” Gov. Rick Scott […]

Drew WilsonFebruary 15, 2016

A South Florida lawyer has filed to run for House District 87, now held by Democratic Rep. Dave Kerner, setting up a three-way Democratic primary for the Palm Beach County seat. Darren Ayoub will face off against David Silvers and Virginia Savietto for the chance to take over for Kerner, who announced last year he would forego another term […]

Tag: Bill Hager

Jeff Atwater considering three for OIR top job

In letter, Kevin McCarty says he’s willing to extend departure date

The million-dollar Insurance Commissioner question

67 apply to become state’s next Insurance Commissioner

Rick Scott, Cabinet make no decision on next Insurance Commissioner

Sine die and deadline to apply for Insurance Commissioner job both Friday

Senate passes Lizbeth Benacquisto bill to reform life insurance payouts

Bill Hager draws Democratic challenger for final term in HD 89

Tom Grady says he won’t apply for Insurance Commissioner

Democratic attorney joins HD 87 race in Palm Beach