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DEP Secretary Departure Sets Rumor Mill Spinning

Governor Rick Scott and the Cabinet are scheduling a teleconference early next month to discuss a replacement for just-resigned Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Jon Steverson.

DEP has a longstanding policy of never commenting on personnel matters. But the rumor mill in the environmental community is in overdrive.

Topping the list of potential Steverson replacements is Scott’s deputy chief of staff, Karl Rasmussen. Another contender is Ryan Matthews, DEP’s deputy secretary for regulatory affairs. Suwannee River Water Management District executive director Noah Valenstein also being mentioned, but he is considered a longshot.

Steverson also came from one of the smaller water management districts, and word is Scott doesn’t want to return to the same well.

For WFSU News, I’m Jim Ash

A Miami native, former WFSU reporter Jim Ash is an award-winning journalist with more than 20 years of experience, most of it in print. He has been a member of the Florida Capital Press Corps since 1992.