Rick Scott Moves Chief of Staff Over to State VA Department

Mike Prendergast is out as Gov. Rick Scotts chief of staff as the governor announced on Monday that the retired Army officer would take over the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs if approved by the Cabinet on Wednesday.

I can think of no better advocate on behalf of Floridas 1.6 million veterans, their families and survivors, than Mike Prendergast, said Scott. His devotion to duty and commitment to our military men and women will be evident in the way he advocates for their health and economic well-being.

Mike committed to getting me through the first legislative session, and he did so with great success. The team he led did a great job of laying the foundation for my 7-7-7 jobs plan, added Scott. Im grateful for his leadership and Im confident he will continue that in this new leadership role that Ive asked him to assume.

While Prendergast had a brief stint as an aide to former U.S. Sen. Bob Graham and as a legislative liaison in the secretary of the Army's office, he had little in the way of political experience, despite a spirited challenge to Democratic U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor in 2010. With Scotts poll numbers in free-fall and Democrats already licking their chops to go after him in 2014, the governors choice to replace Prendergast will be interesting. Could an established Republican pro be headed to the rescue?