At the end of the 1972 film The Candidate, Robert Redford, whose character has just been elected to the U.S. Senate, turns to an adviser played by Peter Boyle and demands, What do we do now?
Florida TaxWatch attempted to answer that question for incoming Gov. Rick Scott, who has never held elected office, by unveiling the 2010 Governors Transition Decision Handbook containing advice from the Sunshine States political leaders past and present.
The smooth and orderly transition from one governor to the next is one of the most enduring symbols of American democracy, said Dominic Calabro, president and CEO of the organization. But, it can also be one of the most challenging and trying times for the newly elected governor who must assemble an entire administration, set priorities, recommend a budget, and build a relationship with the people of Florida all in 62 days. This handbook is the result of 6-months of interviewing dozens of political veterans who have given advice to help the governor-elect and his team as they undertake the monumental tasks and critical decision points of gubernatorial transitions. This is not rocket science, but the information in this handbook is crucially important.
State University System Chancellor Frank Brogan, who served as lieutenant governor under Jeb Bush, chaired the team that compiled the handbook.
The valuable insight and advice in this edition of the handbook from those who have served on the front lines already has been provided to Governor-elect Rick Scott and his team as another important tool at their disposal during the transition period and beyond, said Brogan.
At a media event in Tallahassee Thursday, Calabro said that Florida TaxWatch provided copies to Scott and his team right after the election.
The handbook, the third one presented to an incoming governor by Florida TaxWatch -- after those for Jeb Bush in 1998 and Charlie Crist in 2006 -- contains advice from more than 50 of Floridas leaders, including 10 former governors.
Watch the expectation you create, advised former Gov. Reubin Askew, a Democrat, who served from 1971 until 1979. The campaign is over and you will need to start from scratch. Close your office door. Let no one stampede you. Take the time to find the centrality of state issues. Dont let other peoples priorities dictate your time.
Scott also gotsome advice from former Gov. Claude Kirk, the first Republican to serve as governor since Reconstruction.
Greetings Governor, I cant imagine that you had the temerity to seek this office from the people of Florida, hoping to find this book to tell you how you should act add to that, you sought no advice from me during the campaign so, why would I expect you to respect my advice now and much less, now follow my seriously studied and carefully written thoughts, cautions, and urgings, wrote the always colorful Kirk, who served as governor from 1967 until 1971.
Understand you are no longer a candidate, added Kirk who, like Scott, never held elective office before being elected governor. You are governor the chief executive. So, ask any of the contributors what amount they contributed and would they like their money back? If they do, call me and Ill arrange to pay them out of your way and hair.
Legislative leaders also offered their advice to Scott.
Take full advantage of the honeymoon period there will only be one, advised former Senate President Ken Pruitt.
Former House Speaker Larry Cretul stressed the importance of integrity in the position.
Nothing is more important than keeping your word, noted Cretul. Once you have surrendered that, dont be surprised if no one treats you seriously again.
Former House Minority Leader Franklin Sands, D-Weston, in his last term representing parts of Broward County, advised Scott that the states sluggish economy remained the most pressing concern.
Know that the most important thing is the economy, the economy, the economy in no particular order, noted Sands.
At the media event in Tallahassee, Brogan said that after he was elected lieutenant governor with Bush in 1998, he found the first edition of the handbook very useful.
There was so much wisdom in those quotations, said Brogan.
Calabro stressed that, as an outsider who never held office before, Scott would find the handbook useful even as he looked to reform state government. If you want to change something, you have to know what you are changing, said Calabro.
The handbook also offered overviews of the various state agencies and officers, with a focus on ethics, open government, economic development, education, the judiciary, redistricting, federal and state relations and the budget process.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
