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'In the Dark': Fried Pushes for Transparency in Picking Agency Heads

Nikki Fried is dressed in a business suit clutching a podium with microphones resting close to her.
Ryan Dailey
/
WFSUNews

Florida’s new Commissioner of Agriculture, Nikki Fried wants to make sure that agency heads are appointed according to the law.

In 2015, the state agreed to hold public interviews prior to voting on cabinet appointed positions. However, there was only one candidate present for Department of Revenue and Department of Veterans Affairs. Fried argued there needs to be more transparency.

“What I have been seeking to make sure that based on that settlement agreement between the cabinet back in 2015 that we actually have transparency as we go through the process of appointing agency heads and so that was what I was bringing to the attention of the rest of the members of the cabinet to make sure that we are honoring transparency in the sunshine law here in our state,” Fried said.

Fried commented on the issue during Friday’s Cabinet meeting. Governor DeSantis agreed that Cabinet appointed positions need to be discussed further but continued to interview candidates.

Robbie Gaffney graduated from Florida State University with degrees in Digital Media Production and Creative Writing. Before working at WFSU, they recorded FSU’s basketball and baseball games for Seminole Productions as well as interned for the PBS Station in Largo, Florida. Robbie loves playing video games such as Shadow of the Colossus, Animal Crossing, and Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles. Their other hobbies include sleeping and watching anime.