You know I like this governor. I make no secret of the fact that I look kindly on what Rick Scott has done overall to strengthen Florida's economy and position the state to lead in uncertain times. So let's get that out of the way first.
But liking the governor doesn't mean he can do no wrong. In fact, every once in a while he does something that makes me want to pull his governorship over, turn off the engine, and box his ears.
Thursday was one of those days.
Scott had one of his nose-growing moments.
Jim Turner of the News Service of Florida caught him long enough to ask him specifically what role he had in the sudden resignation of South Florida Water Management District Executive Director Blake Guillory, and the quick hire of Peter Antonacci to take Guillory's place. No candidate search, no job advertisement -- not even a feigned pretense of an effort to recruit a top water management replacement. Certainly none that I can find.
With a straight face, Scott told Turner Antonacci's selection was up to the governing board.
"Pete did a great job as general counsel, and I'm sure he'll do a great job (at SFWMD), but that was a decision by the board."
Please, Governor. Give us a little credit here. The control-freakiest governor I've seen in my lifetime allowed board members he appointed to make a decision all by themselves? Not true.
A decision board members make with a gun to their head is no board decision at all. Does Scott really think by now any interested party doesn't know how the SFWMD "turnover" went down?
The governor also pretended not to care that the SFWMD governing board went against his wishes, and instead of holding the line on a tax cut, used the whole of the district's $756 million budget for projects they believe are necessary.
"The board makes that decision," Scott told Turner. "I have the opportunity to appoint the board, but they make those decisions."
That's way fibby-wibby, Governor.
You went ballistic when you found out that even on a second budget vote, your hand-picked executive director and hand-picked board didn't give you the 8 percent tax cut you wanted. Your outrage wasn't even close to a secret. There were too many people who knew and spilled. Somebody's head had to roll, so why not Guillory's? He couldn't even effectively force-feed board members your tax-cut message.
Not that Guillory was entirely deserving of the long, flowery eulogy board members gave him during Thursday's district meeting. But that's a story for later.
The point here is, Scott should expect that not all of what happens in the governor's office stays in the governor's office. The place leaks like a tramp steamer in a mine field. Plus, he's been in office for five years; by now he should realize the media have him down cold. The Guillory-Antonacci drama -- virtually every part of it, soup to nuts -- was a known quantity many days before the governor or his office or his consultants wanted it to go public.
So, why tell reporters something they know isn't true? How can it help Scott's image to pretend something is so when it isn't?
Hear me on this one, Governor: If a reporter asks you a question and you don't want to answer honestly, tell him to buzz off. Give him a "no comment." Maybe smile as if you didn't hear the question. He won't like it and neither will I. But it's better than feeding us garbage you know -- and you know we know -- isnt true.
Reach Nancy Smith at nsmith@sunshinestatenews.com or at 228-282-2423. Twitter: @NancyLBSmith
