Gov. Rick Scott announced a promotion for Kim McDougal as she will take over as his chief of staff.
After Melissa Sellers announced her resignation last week, Scott tapped McDougal, currently his deputy chief of staff, to move up to replace her. McDougal’s first day in her new position will be on April 2.
In his announcement, Scott highlighted the many hats McDougal has worn in his administration.
“During Kim’s time as my deputy chief of staff, legislative affairs director and education policy coordinator she has done an outstanding job working hard for Florida families,” Scott said. “She has a tremendously successful track record working as a dedicated state employee for almost three decades. Her extensive experience and knowledge of this great state will be an asset to accomplishing our goals. We’ve reached the milestone of creating over 1 million jobs, cut $1 billion in taxes in two years, and passed a budget that includes record funding for our K-12 students. I look forward to Kim leading our team as we continue our goal to make Florida the number one place in the world for families to succeed.”
McDougal also worked for Scott’s campaign on policy and served as his policy director. Before that, she worked at the state Department of Education as a senior policy advisor and as governmental relations director. She also worked under former Gov. Jeb Bush, R-Fla., and in the state Legislature’s Office of Program Policy and Government Accountability in the Florida Legislature. She holds a doctorate in education from Florida State University.
First elected in 2010, Scott is now naming his fifth chief of staff. In 2011, Scott first turned to Mike Prendergast and then Steve MacNamara as chiefs of staff. In late 2012, Scott named Adam Hollingsworth to the post. In December 2014, Scott turned to Sellers who had been his communications director and the campaign manager of his successful reelection bid.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
