Hurricane season is right around the corner, and Florida’s Cabinet officers have yet to name a new insurance commissioner. But CFO Jeff Atwater appears confident ahead of next week’s Cabinet meeting.
Florida’s Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty steps down next month and the cabinet will discuss his replacement next Tuesday. But CFO Atwater isn’t sure they’ll adjourn with a successor in place.
“I’m not sure that we will,” Atwater says, “and again I want you to know that I’m well aware that we’re approaching hurricane season, and I’m well aware that I want to keep moving as briskly and as quickly as possible to identify the right candidate.”
McCarty has offered to stay on until a replacement is selected, but Atwater isn’t ready to say that will be necessary. Atwater and Governor Rick Scott have to agree on the candidate, and they’ve yet to find common ground. But Wednesday Scott met again with Atwater’s top choice—Rep. Bill Hager (R-Delray Beach).
Editor's note: an earlier version of this story incorrectly attributed the quote to Kevin McCarty.
