For the second consecutive Cabinet meeting, Gov. Rick Scott was thwarted in his effort to bring Jeffrey Bragg aboard as Florida insurance commissioner.
Scott didn't wait Tuesday for Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater to make a nomination. This time he made one himself. After Cabinet members had interviewed all four commissioner candidates, Scott read a list of Bragg's qualifications and nominated him for the post.
"We need an insurance commissioner who is a proven leader," said Scott, reading from a prepared statement, "who can facilitate a competitive and stable insurance market, while most importantly making sure Florida's consumers are protected.
"I believe Jeff Bragg can do that. He has 40 years in the public and private insurance industry. Most recently, he served as executive director of the federal Terrorism Risk Insurance Program, created a new regulatory program in a post 9/11 world from the ground up, is an accomplished professional, served at the highest level ..."
Said Scott, "I move to appoint Jeffrey Bragg as commissioner of the Office of Insurance Regulation at a salary of $150,000. Is there a second?"
But then, nothing. Six full seconds of silence.
Cabinet members looked at one another and waited, but no second was forthcoming.
Under Florida law, Scott and Atwater first must agree on a candidate, who then must be approved by one other Cabinet member, either Attorney General Pam Bondi or Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam. The Office of Insurance Regulation is under the Department of Financial Services, which Atwater heads.
The governor, noticeably irritated after the no-second, pointed out that hurricane season is 30 days away. As far as taking current Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty up on his offer to stay as long as necessary, Scott said no. "We need a permanent replacement." He said he didn't know McCarty was staying on for the interim, he didn't see his letter. "It surprised me," he said.
Last Wednesday McCarty wrote and distributed a letter to Cabinet members saying he would delay his departure to “45 days after my successor is appointed” to help out in the transition (see letter in the attachment below). His last day originally was to be May 2.
Scott said he didn't want to reappoint McCarty, and while he appreciated the commissioner's offer, he wanted a candidate "who is focused and fully engaged on this job, and not where they're going next."
Scott called a Cabinet meeting for 9 a.m. Friday. Because Bondi said she is unable to attend that day, the meeting will take place by phone. It's a good thing, said Atwater. "We need to keep the process moving forward."
Scott added two more candidates to the short list, David Altmaier and Rich Robleto, both deputy commissioners with the Office of Insurance Regulation. But all four candidates interviewed in the Cabinet room Tuesday will remain on the list: Bragg, former executive director of the federal Terrorism Risk Insurance Program; Rep. Bill Hager, an expert witness and arbitrator and the former insurance commissioner of Iowa; Ray Blacklidge, a long-time insurance executive; and Belinda Miller, McCarty's chief of staff and his personal choice to replace him.
After the meeting, when asked why Jeffrey Bragg is his man, Scott said, "The first time I met him I was impressed with his background, how he'd look at the job. He knows we have to have a robust insurance market and also take care of consumers."
Atwater, however, in his own post-meeting gaggle, expressed his trust in McCarty, and also in Hager and Miller, particularly because of their qualifications. And when reporters asked him if he thought Bragg was qualified, he answered carefully, leaving the door open for him. "I don't know about the regulatory experience ..." he said, but Bragg did a good job of explaining himself. "When I see candidates with clear regulatory relevance, I have a real comfort level there," he said, referring to Hager and Miller.
Reach Nancy Smith at nsmith@sunshinestatenews.com or at 228-282-2423. Twitter: @NancyLBSmith
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