Some familiar faces were named to governor-elect Rick Scott's transition team today, including one from Jacksonville: Rep. Mike Weinstein.
Other names, from the Associated Press:
The Republican's transition advisory committee includes former Lt. Gov. Toni Jennings; Sally Bradshaw, the chief of staff to former Gov. Jeb Bush; and outgoing U.S. Sen. George LeMieux, among other figures well-known in Tallahassee.
"We're rolling," Scott said in his first press conference as governor-elect.
Named as the head of his transition was Washington trial lawyer Enu Mainigi, a longtime friend first hired after Scott's ouster from Columbia/HCA amid a massive fraud investigation. Scott tapped Mary Anne Carter, a Tennessee lawyer who headed his Conservatives for Patients' Rights initiative, as his transition team's executive director.
Scott defended his appointment of Tallahassee insiders — a term he used to criticize both Bill McCollum, whom he defeated in the primary, and Alex Sink, whom he prevailed over with a razor-thin win in the general election.
"They're all going to have ideas," Scott said. "They know what's worked in the past, what hasn't worked in the past."
Also named to his transition team: Kathleen Shanahan, Bush's former chief of staff and a member of Gov. Charlie Crist's transition team four years ago; state Sen. Paula Dockery; former state Rep. Bill Galvano; and Mayor Manny Marono of Sweetwater. He's also including at least one Democrat in his transition, former Miami Mayor Maurice Ferre, who unsuccessfully ran for Senate and crossed the aisle to support Scott for governor.
As for Crist, the current occupant of the governor's mansion, Scott said he received a phone message from him, and left him one back, but has not managed to talk to him yet.
"My voicemail has been full," Scott said.
You need to be a member of First Coast Tea Party to add comments!
Join First Coast Tea Party