TALLAHASSEE — In 2007, Gov. Charlie Crist invited his trusted hometown coiffeur to fill a position on the state Barbers' Board.
Yes, there is one.
Just like there are professional boards for boxing, acupuncture, interior design, auctioneers and more.
Carl Troup, 66, accepted Crist's offer and when his term expired Oct. 31, 2010, Crist reappointed him. Then Crist's own term expired. And in a classic new governor's move, Rick Scott withdrew the applications of dozens of Crist's unconfirmed appointees Wednesday.
His decision affected a swath of leaders who, like Troup, meet a few times a year to guard their professions against illegal activity. They keep up with changes in industry statutes.
There are many state panels that regulate medicine, universities, water management and utilities. No surprises with those regulation czars, right?
But then there's the Barbers' Board. Comprised of five licensed barbers and two consumers, the panel meets for a day every three months to review licensure applications of hair-shaping hopefuls. They review complaints, appeals and quarterly reports, and make sure barbers take courses in HIV/AIDS prevention and sanitation.
Boards like this are mostly funded by licensing fees and fines. The monthly meetings require a day off of work with a payout of about $50 and some money for meals, Troup said.
"You don't do them for any fame or gratification," he said.
Troup and two other board members were told to resubmit their applications, but they were not among a wave of reappointments released late Friday — like Leonard "Lenny" Curry of the state Boxing Commission.
Curry, a Jacksonville businessman, is the new vice chairman of the Republican Party of Florida. He was the only member of the state Boxing Commission whose application was pulled.
After two days, he got a call from the Governor's Office that he was to be reappointed.
Part of Curry's job, and that of four other commission members, is to make sure the environment for professional boxing, kickboxing and mixed martial arts is safe and that care is nearby.
With Scott renewing his appointment, Curry's fate is ultimately left to the Senate. That could still happen for Troup, though he will have an outlet for public service either way.
Troup is also a vice president of the National Association of Barber Boards of America.
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