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 GradyĀ previously told FloridaPolitics.comĀ he wasn’t interested in the job. He and others were rumored to be on Gov. Rick Scott‘s short list.Ā
The Naples Republican is a friend ofĀ Scott and a former Commissioner of Financial Regulation and interim president of Citizens Property Insurance Corp.
āI havenāt applied. I donāt expect to apply,ā GradyĀ said last month. āIt was flattering to hear my name batted about as a leading contender.ā
AlsoĀ absent from the applicant pool is state Rep. Bill Hager,Ā aĀ Delray Beach Republican, former Iowa Insurance Commissioner, and current vice chairĀ of the HouseĀ Insurance and Banking Subcommittee.
Hager declined to comment recently when asked his interest in the position.
Also absent is Bryan Nelson, aĀ former state representative and current Orange County commissioner.
Outgoing Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCartyĀ had been targeted for removal by Scott, who wanted new leadership in thatĀ key office. The 56-year-oldĀ announced in JanuaryĀ that he wasĀ stepping down from theĀ post he had held since 2003.
His replacement will have to be agreed upon by Scott and the Florida Cabinet:Ā CFO JeffĀ Atwater, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam.
Applications also close Friday for the position of executive director of the Department of Revenue.
Current DORĀ headĀ Marshall StranburgĀ accepted a position as deputy executive director ofĀ the Multistate Tax Commission, anĀ intergovernmental agency that works on uniformity in taxes among states.Ā His last day isĀ April 1.
