Gov. Rick Scott has appointed Mathew C. Lucas as judge for the 13th Judicial Circuit. Lucas, 38, of Tampa, has served as a Hillsborough County Court judge since 2010. Judge Lucas has already gained a reputation as a wise and diligent judge and as a committed public servant, Scott stated in a release. I know that Judge Lucas will continue to serve well in his new role on the 13th Circuit bench. Lucas will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Susan Sexton.

Gov. Rick Scott has appointed Daniel H. Sleet to the 2nd District Court of Appeal. Sleet, 51, of Tampa, has served as a circuit court judge on the 13th Judicial Circuit since 2006. Judge Sleet has served the 13th Judicial Circuit with honesty and integrity, and he has a strong appreciation for the rule of law and the proper role of the courts, Scott stated in a release. I am confident he will prove to be an exemplary appellate judge.

Gov. Rick Scott has appointed Clyde Alexander Jr. to the Madison County Commission to complete the term of Alfred Junior Martin, who was arrested on grand theft charges in August. Alexander, 63, of Madison, is the director of fitness and wellness and minority recruiter at North Florida Community College. He served on the county School Board 1986 to 2012.

Floridas unemployment hit 8.1 percent in November, down 0.4 percentage points from October and marking the lowest the Sunshine State has seen since November 2008. The latest numbers from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity estimate that 760,000 Floridians remain jobless from a work force of 9.34 million. The rate is 2 percentage points lower than where the state was one year ago.

Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, filed a bill that would maintain Floridas involvement in a multistate agreement that makes it easier for children of military personnel to change schools when their parents are deployed to new bases. Senate Bill 138 keeps Florida in the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children that since 2008 addresses issues of eligibility, enrollment, placement and graduation.

In a wide-ranging exclusive interview with Newsmax, Gov. Rick Scott of Florida says he is "open to ideas" about arming Florida's public school teachers, in the wake of theSandy Hook Elementary School shooting. Asked about Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnells call for a discussion on arming school officials, Scott told Newsmax: Im always open to ideas to understand how we can reduce our crime rate. Whenever something happens, you always open your ears to listen to more things.

Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnamhas issued a statement in memory of Commissioner of Agriculture Doyle Conner, whose body lies in state todayat Floridas Historic Capitol from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Conner served the department for three decades, between 1961 and 1991.

Policyholders of Florida, founded by Sean Shaw, former insurance consumer advocate and current Merlin Law Group attorney, gave support to Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwaters proposal to place an inspector general for Citizens Property Insurance Corp. under the jurisdiction of the state Cabinet.

The National Journal, a magazine widely read by Washington insiders, reports today on one name popping up among observers and analysts of the GOP's 2014 and 2016 electoral prospects: Bush. The Journal suggests that Republican strategists are taking another look at a political dynasty associated with a social-welfare-friendly conservatism that might appeal to a broad electoral base.

U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Sarasota, has requested the House fund health services for the mentally ill in the wake of the killings in Newtown, Conn. Buchanan sent the following letter requesting the funding on Wednesday to President Obama and House Speaker Boehner, R-Ohio: Dear President Obama & Speaker Boehner:

Lest you should think it's only the conservatives who produce fringe kooks, tin-foil hatters and all-around nut jobs, take a close look at Tallahassee lawyer Steve Andrews. Apparently Andrews felt so intimidated -- got so riled up -- because he was on Gov. Rick Scott's Christmas gift list -- ooooo, scary! -- and the gift actually was sent out by the governor's political committee ... well, he felt the need to run to the Tampa Bay Times to "report" his outrage.

The Jacksonville Port Authority board of directors has named Roy Schleicher as interim CEO a day after the Tampa Port Authority hired away Paul Anderson. The board also agreed to bring in a search committee to help find Andersons permanent replacement. Schleicher has been executive vice president at JAXPORT since 2011 after 10 years leading the ports international cargo marketing.

Gov. Rick Scott has appointed Jeffrey D. Gillen, of West Palm Beach as judge of the 15th Judicial Circuit Court. Jeff has dedicated the majority of his professional life to serve Floridas families, Scott stated in a release. I am confident that he will bring the same service and sense of fairness and integrity to the 15th Judicial Circuit bench. Gillen, 61, has been appeals director for the Department of Children and Families since 2008, where he has worked since 1997. Gillen fills the vacancy created by the resignation of Judge John H. Hoy.

True the Vote, a nonpartisan election integrity organization, has submitted formal requests to review all voter registration records, including poll books, to St. Lucie County Supervisor of Elections Gertrude Walker in the aftermath of the 18th Congressional District recount.

Before he had returned from Colombia as the head of a 200-strong trade and business development mission, Gov. Rick Scott was already planning a return to South America. The next stop is Chile in May, according to the Sun-Sentinel.