Greg Evers, Ritch Workman, others move ahead for PSC opening

Former lawmakers Greg Evers, Rich Glorioso, and Ritch Workman and current Rep. Tom Goodson have been selected to be interviewed to replace Jimmy Patronis on the Florida Public Service Commission.

Another noteworthy applicant, former state Comptroller and retired Marine general Bob Milligan, was shut out of the process, receiving no votes from the Public Service Commission Nominating Council, which met Wednesday in Tampa.

The 84-year-old had said he was only interested in serving out Patronis’ current term, which is up at the end of 2018. Patronis stepped down to replace Jeff Atwater as Florida’s chief financial officer. Atwater left for a similar job at Florida Atlantic University.

Other applicants picked to be interviewed for the seat on the panel, which regulates investor-owned utilities, include:

— Former state Rep. Kenneth Littlefield, a Pasco County Republican who once chaired the House Utilities & Telecommunications Committee. Littlefield is a former PSC member, having been put on the commission by former Gov. Jeb Bush in 2006. Then-Gov. Charlie Crist replaced him the following year.

— Bill Conrad, former mayor of Newberry in Alachua County.

— Clay Lindstrom, who until recently was director of the Fort Pierce Utilities Authority. Lindstrom was fired recently after a controversy over businesses not paying utility deposits.

— Anibal Taboas, an Illinois-based consultant and former U.S. Department of Energy official.

— Associate Public Counsel Erik Sayler. The Office of Public Counsel represents the interests of ratepayers before the commission.

— Jody Ann Newman, who currently chairs the Florida Board of Nursing.

— Ted Schrader, a former Pasco County commissioner and Tampa Bay Water board member.

Evers, a Baker Republican, left the Senate to run last year for northwest Florida’s Congressional seat, losing to Matt Gaetz.

Glorioso, a Plant City Republican and retired U.S. Air Force colonel, served in the House 2004-2012.

Workman, a Melbourne Republican, lost a bruising primary battle last year to fellow GOP Rep. Debbie Mayfield for Senate District 17.

Goodson, a Brevard County Republican, chairs the House Agriculture and Property Rights subcommittee and is term-limited next year. He’s a “road contractor” by trade, according to his House member page. 

Also Wednesday, the council decided to interview Commissioners Ronald Brisé and Art Graham, who have re-applied for their seats; their terms are up at year’s end.

Also selected to be considered for those seats were Conrad, Lindstrom, Littlefield, Newman and Taboas, who cross-applied.

The council ultimately will make its recommendations to Gov. Rick Scott, who will decide on the appointments. Interviews and a “final selection” for the three vacancies will be held next Thursday in Orlando. The council “shall nominate no fewer than three persons for each vacancy,” according to its rules.