SENATE CONFIRMATIONS The Senate confirmed only a handful of gubernatorial appointments during the 2015 session. Among the approved were Public Service Commissioners Julie Brown and Jimmy Patronis and Auditor General Sherrill Foltz Norman. AG Norman is the first woman to hold the position. On their last day on the floor, the Senate confirmed Brigadier General Michael Calhoun, Adjutant General of the Florida National Guard, along with a long list of board appointees.
A majority of appointments were not confirmed by the Senate this legislative session. The appointees will be up for confirmation again during the 2016 Legislative Session, which begins in January. Appointees not confirmed include department heads such as Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Jon Steverson and Agency for Health Care Administration Secretary Liz Dudek, among others.
The Cabinet approved Governor Scott ‘s recommendation for the confirmations of DEP Secretary Steverson and FDLE Commissioner Rick Swearingen.
SERGEANT AT ARMS Sgt. Don Severance will be retiring as Sergeant at Arms of the Florida Senate this Fall. Severance served for over 39 years in the Senate and became Sergeant at Arms in 1999.
FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH Kerry Waldron has been named administrator for the Florida Department of Health in Suwannee and Lafayette counties.