Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaApril 26, 2016

A second Florida Cabinet meeting has ended with no agreement on a new state Insurance Commissioner. Gov. Rick Scott and Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater again deadlocked on Tuesday, further stalling the process. In a near replay of the last meeting, an intransigent Scott again moved to hire retired insurance executive Jeffrey Bragg. An equally intransigent Atwater declined […]

Jim RosicaApril 26, 2016

And then there were four. Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet are scheduled to interview four candidates Tuesday for the position of state Insurance Commissioner. The Cabinet meeting kicks off at 9 a.m. in the Capitol. The interviews, which could result in someone being appointed at the meeting, are last on the agenda. Time […]

Gary FineoutApril 25, 2016

Thanks to an arcane state law, Florida could enter hurricane season with no one firmly in charge of the state agency responsible for regulating the state’s at-times fragile insurance industry. The reason? The two Republican elected officials responsible for picking a new commissioner are locked in a stalemate over who should be hired to replace […]

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

A top plaintiffs’ insurance lawyer is lauding Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty‘s offer to extend his departure, which was originally set for May 2. McCarty “staying on until a replacement is named is a massive blessing,” said Chip Merlin of the Merlin Law Group in Tampa. Merlin has built a business out of suing insurance companies that “deny, delay or underpay property […]

Jim RosicaApril 20, 2016

Screen-Shot-2016-01-05-at-2.58.20-PM-1024x1024.png

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 SchorschMarch 16, 2016

Replacing Commissioner Kevin McCarty of the Office of Insurance Regulation is shaping up to be a challenge. Dozens of candidates, offering what can be called (charitably) a broad range of credentials, have thrown their names in the hat. So the process of choosing a new OIR leader, now that it is well underway, will prove […]

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. […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 15, 2016

Screen-Shot-2016-01-08-at-6.01.40-PM-1024x1024.png

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 […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 15, 2016

Screen-Shot-2016-02-15-at-3.10.33-PM-1024x1024.png

Only two of the 25 applicants aiming to replace outgoing Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty answered “yes” to the state’s two pre-screening qualifying questions as of Monday. Kirk Schmidt, of Jefferson City, Missouri, is president and CFO of an insurance company after having been chief financial examiner for the Missouri Department of Insurance, he said in his […]

Tag: Kevin McCarty

Top state officials still can’t agree on new Insurance Commissioner

Could new Insurance Commissioner be hired Tuesday?

Stormy times: Florida officials squabble over insurance pick

Jeff Atwater considering three for OIR top job

Chip Merlin calls Kevin McCarty’s departure delay a ‘massive blessing’

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

The Good, the Bad and the Interesting: Evaluating the applicants for Florida insurance commissioner

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

Tom Grady says he won’t apply for Insurance Commissioner

Only 2 applicants clear Insurance Commissioner pre-screening