Senate President-designate Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, has already snagged three big names from inside the capital circle to help run his office through the 2013 and 2014 legislative sessions.
Lisa Vickers, who recently stepped down as director of the Florida Department of Revenue, has been hired to be Gaetzs senior adviser. Carol Gormley, who previously worked for former Gov. Jeb Bush, is coming over from the House where she was staff director for the Health and Human Services Committee.She will serve as senior policy advisory on health care for Gaetz.
And for the media, Katie Betta, the House communications director, will take the same role for the presidents office.Betta will replace Lyndsey Cruley.
I want to make sure we have very substantive policy-oriented people in the presidents office, not politically oriented people, Gaetz said. Ill take care of the politics; I need deep players, serious players, who can advise me and my fellow senators on policy issues.
Gaetz still intends to name a deputy chief of staff, senior policy adviser for education, a senior policy adviser for economic issues and a general counsel in the coming weeks.
Gaetz, who is up for re-election in November, but so far without announced opposition, said he started the talent search before the session.
The individuals I have appointed are very substantive, very serious policy experts in their areas, Gaetz said. And I want to make sure we have the opportunity to include them in our team because they are individuals who could go anywhere in the public or private sector.
Gormley worked across the conference table from Gaetz on health issues between the House and Senate.Gaetz has known Vickers since he joined the Senate, working with her on tax reform and property valuation issues. Betta was part of the House-Senate redistricting team traveling the state in 2011.
Not expecting a major overhaul on the other side of the Capitol, House Speaker-designate Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, released a statement Tuesday about the makeup of the office this summer.
The House already has a top notch staff that has a proven record of success, Weatherford stated. While I do not anticipate making any major changes, I look forward to complementing existing staff with a strong team that will continue to serve Floridians well."
Weatherford is working with a transition team headed by Sally Bradshaw, who was chief of staff under former Gov.Jeb Bush.
It has been pretty common in the Senate for the new president to bring in new, but often familiar faces when taking office.
At least the last four Senate presidents have revamped their staffs to fit their styles.
Not all new faces will join Gaetz in the move into the presidents office, as he plans to retain Christopher Clark, his legislative assistant in Tallahasssee, and Michael Bryne and Melissa Ullery his assistants in his district office in Destin.
Gaetz, who has already qualified for the ballot through the petition method, had nearly $390,000 in his campaign account as the second quarter of 2012 began.
No one is collecting money to challenge Gaetz.
Weatherford, who has also qualified for the ballot via petitions, has about $350,000 banked in case a challenger arises.
Reach Jim Turner at jturner@sunshinestatenews.com or at (772) 215-9889.
