By Trimmel Gomes
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wfsu/local-wfsu-927559.mp3
Tallahassee, FL – Former Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Mike Sole is going to work for the state's largest power company, Florida Power & Light. The utility sent a memo to its employees Monday, and the news is making shockwaves for those who are all too familiar with the give and take of Tallahassee and are sick of it.
"You can't trust the system, and I tell people don't trust this system."
Nancy Argenziano is on her way out as chair of Florida's Public Service Commission, the body that regulates utility companies like Florida Power and Light. She says she doesn't have anything against former Secretary Sole. But she does recall when his new boss, Eric Silagy, was caught lobbying Sole and legislators last year without registering as a lobbyist.
"When you look back at the secret lobbying and all that kind of stuff, it makes you raise an eyebrow, and given what I know about the Public Service Commission and the whole process, everything I think that it's involved with is bad."
Silagy was also caught forming a smear campaign against Argenziano and several other commissioners.
Sole had been one of the most visible state officials in Florida's response to the oil spill in the Gulf. He resigned soon after the spill was capped. He will work out of FPL's Tallahassee office. He's now able to work with Florida's Executive Branch and state agencies except DEP. Sole couldn't be reached for comment.