Scott pushing Cabinet to oust more agency chiefs

Gov. Scott is pushing for more change at Cabinet agencies.

While still drawing heat over ousting the head of the states law enforcement agency, Gov. Rick Scott is eager for more turnover at the top of agencies he and the Cabinet lead.

In a letter Tuesday to Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater, Scott said he wants to talk about making changes at the Office of Insurance Regulation, Office of Financial Regulation and the states Department of Revenue.

Scott said the goal is, so we can get fresh ideas into those Cabinet positions at the start of a second term.

Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty was already rumored to be close to being pushed out the door by Scott. McCarty has 26 years of experience in state government, including his current appointed role since 2003.

But recent speculation was that insurance industry lobbyists had been pressuring Scott to find someone more to their liking.

Others potentially headed to the gangplank are low-key officials: Office of Financial Regulation Commissioner Drew Breakspear and Revenue Department executive director Marshall Stranburg.

Scott and the Cabinet next meet Feb. 5. The independently elected Atwater, along with Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam and Attorney General Pam Bondi said little when Florida Department of Law Enforcement head Gerald Bailey was shown the door by Scott, so this latest round of potential firings could prove a test of the governors muscle.

An Atwater spokeswoman earlier rejected talk that he would support replacing McCarty. The CFO also recently suggested to Scott that in the wake of his ouster Bailey that more candidates be considered for the post.

But Scott dismissed the idea of revisiting the recent selection of Rick Swearingen as Baileys replacement. Scott said it was important to avoid unnecessary turmoil within an organization of great men and women.

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Scott pushing Cabinet to oust more agency chiefs