Florida Governor Rick Scott has finally begun his search for the state’s next insurance commissioner, having interviewed three candidates since March 22. The state’s Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater was also set to interview more aspirants for the post.
A total of 55 candidates applied for the position of Florida’s insurance commissioner. The previous commissioner, Kevin McCarty, resigned last January after over a decade of service.
According to a Tampa Bay Times report, the governor interviewed former U.S. Treasury Department official Jeffrey Bragg and Florida Office of Insurance Regulation deputy commissioner David Altmaier March 21. The former is a Palm Harbor resident who was formerly the executive director of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program during George W. Bush’s presidency and administered the National Flood Insurance Program during Reagan’s time; the latter was promoted to deputy commissioner about a year ago, having held six positions with the OIR since 2008.
On March 22, Scott interviewed State Rep. Bill Hager, R-Boca Raton. Hager once served the Iowa Department of Insurance as its commissioner from 1986 to 1990.
Atwater also conducted interviews of his own, as part of the cabinet charged with selecting a replacement for McCarty. He interviewed McCarty's chief of staff Belinda Miller, chief actuary Eric Johnson, and deputy commissioner Rich Robleto March 22. Atwater was also set to interview David Altmaier.
Florida’s next insurance commissioner will earn a salary of up to $200,000 a year. Scott and the Cabinet voted in early March to raise the pay of the position in a bid to attract capable candidates from all across the country. In comparison, McCarty made $134,000 annually.
By March 29—before the state’s infamous hurricane season starts—the entire Cabinet is expected to hold a final interview and select Florida’s next insurance commissioner.
