Tea Partier James Moran Reportedly Has Inside Track to SFWMD Board

Sunshine State News has learned that James Moran, a tea party founder, may have the inside track for a seat on the South Florida Water Management board of governors.

Moran, whose daughter heads up Tea Party in Action, is among more than two-dozen applicants vying to fill five vacancies on the SFWMD board.

Marianne Moran led a tea party protest at SFWMD's West Palm Beach headquarters last summer, opposing the agency's controversial $197 billion land deal with U.S. Sugar. Rick Scott, who was then vying for the GOP gubernatorial nomination, spoke at the protest rally.

The senior Moran, a Boynton Beach attorney, is on the short list for consideration by the Scott administration, a source familiar with the situation told Sunshine State News. He has said he supports a Senate proposal to put water agency budgets under the control of the Legislature.

Nine applicants are seeking the Palm Beach County seat vacated last June by Pat Rooney, who was elected to the Florida House last fall.