WEEKLY ROUNDUP
Presidential picks
TALLAHASSEE – The outcome this week of one higher-education presidential search was widely expected, as Richard Corcoran was chosen to lead New College of Florida — but a state college had an unexpected turn of events.
Broward College began an expedited search for an interim leader last week, after former President Gregory Haile resigned. By Tuesday, the college’s Board of Trustees had selected Henry Mack, a former senior chancellor at the state Department of Education, to become interim president.
But it wasn’t meant to be. Mack asked for a salary and a contract length that were more than what the college was willing to give, the chairwoman of the trustees told The News Service of Florida.
So on Wednesday, Broward College announced that the trustees’ second choice, Barbara Bryan, will serve as interim president.
Bryan has been CEO of Higher Education Consulting and worked at the school for 26 years, holding roles such as campus president and provost of the college’s North Campus in Coconut Creek. She will be the first woman to hold the top job at the college.
“I’ve spent the greater part of my career at the institution, and it is an honor for me to return in the capacity of acting president to serve among the dedicated and passionate faculty and staff in our mission to provide quality education and job training to our community,” Bryan said in a statement.
Trustees agreed on a contract that is slated to run for six months and includes a $287,000 annualized base salary. Mack had been offered a similar contract, with an additional travel reimbursement of up to $3,000 because he lives in Tallahassee.
But Broward College trustees Chairwoman Alexis Yarbrough said Mack requested a $400,000 salary and a term of at least one year.
A job posting listed a salary range for the position of $250,000 to $350,000.
“You are stepping into his (Haile’s) shoes. The salary should be the same as that exiting president. And we do not do housing and transportation allowances at Broward College,” Yarbrough said.
Meanwhile, Corcoran, who took over as interim president of New College in February, was chosen Tuesday from among three finalists to become president of the Sarasota school on a permanent basis.
The former state House speaker and state education commissioner received 10 of 12 votes from the New College board, which is dominated by appointees of Gov. Ron DeSantis. The board’s faculty and student members voted for other finalists.
The trustees’ selection of Corcoran set in motion negotiations on a contract, with board Vice Chairman Ronald Christaldi designated to work out the details. The New College Presidential Search Committee in July approved a pay range of $487,000 to $868,000.
GAETZ EYES RETURN
Like father, like son — maybe? While former state Senate President Don Gaetz launched a campaign this week to try to return to the Legislature, his son, Congressman Matt Gaetz, is widely rumored to be considering a run for governor in 2026. Don Gaetz, a Niceville Republican who served in the Senate from 2006 to 2016, was president of the chamber during the 2013 and 2014 legislative sessions. He filed paperwork this week to run in 2024 in the Panhandle’s Senate District 1. “I can tell you that there is no sideline in the Senate,” Gaetz, a former hospice executive and Okaloosa County schools superintendent, said. “There are 40 members, and the way the Senate operates any one of those 40 members can make a significant contribution. And any one of those 40 members can stand in the way of bad legislation. So, I want to be the best freshman senator I can be.” The 75-year-old Gaetz said he hadn’t contemplated a legislative run until a few weeks ago, when a Pensacola radio host asked him about “rumors” of a 2024 candidacy. Sen. Doug Broxson, R-Gulf Breeze, can’t run again in the district because of term limits. The Gaetz name has drawn heavy attention nationally as Gaetz’s son, U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., forced a vote Tuesday to oust California Republican Kevin McCarthy as U.S. House speaker. The younger Gaetz was highly critical of McCarthy for working with Democrats to pass a stopgap bill to avoid a federal-government shutdown. But while rumors swirl that Matt Gaetz could be eyeing the governor’s mansion, he told Jim DeFede of CBS News Miami that he doesn’t plan to run. “I’m not running for governor,” the congressman said. “I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be. I’m doing exactly what I’m supposed to be doing.”
DOING THE DEPOP
Amid a push to move policyholders into the private market, regulators have approved proposals by six private insurers to take as many 153,000 policies from the state’s Citizens Property Insurance Corp.v Insurance Commissioner Michael Yaworsky signed six orders during the past week giving the go-ahead to the private insurers to make offers to Citizens customers. The state Office of Insurance Regulation issued similar orders July 31 and Sept. 1 that could lead to insurers taking as many as 386,000 policies from Citizens.
The number of policies that end up leaving Citizens likely will be significantly lower than the approved totals. Nevertheless, what is known as “depopulation” is a key state strategy for trying to shrink Citizens, which has grown to more than 1.4 million policies because of financial problems in the private market.
“Depop (depopulation) is critically important,” Citizens President and CEO Tim Cerio said last week. “We’ve got to do it for the health of the market.”
STORY OF THE WEEK: Less than 24 hours after selecting former state education official Henry Mack as its interim president, Broward College announced Wednesday that a longtime former administrator at the school — not Mack — will take the helm.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “The good thing is, I love to campaign. My family loves to campaign. We like to go door-to-door. We’re almost sick in our love for campaigning.” — Former Senate President Don Gaetz, who launched a campaign to return to the Senate.