News
TALLAHASSEE — The "jobs governor," Rick Scott, has two important jobs to fill in his administration.
Scott on Wednesday accepted the resignation of Jack Miles, secretary of the Department of Management Services. Charles Trippe, his general counsel, told the governor he plans to resign next month.
As general counsel, Trippe advised Scott on legal matters, from signing death warrants to issuing executive orders, and oversaw the appointments of judges throughout the state. Trippe also argued for Scott's right to kill a high-speed rail project between Tampa and Orlando before the state Supreme Court.
Prior to joining Scott's team, Trippe was a partner in the Jacksonville law firm of Moseley, Pritchard, Parrish, Knight & Jones. Before that, he was a top legal adviser to CSX Transportation Inc.
Trippe's last day as Scott's top lawyer will be March 9, the scheduled last day of the legislative session.
Miles sent a resignation letter to Scott in which he said he would remain at DMS through March 31 "or as long as you require."
A spokesman for Scott, Lane Wright, said both executives told the governor when they were hired that they would stay through two legislative sessions, "and they will have fulfilled the commitment that they made."
Both men are paid $140,000 a year.
Miles, a former director of CIGNA, the health care provider, worked to restore DMS' credibility with legislators.
In his letter, he wrote: "DMS has undergone considerable churn over the last several years, and we have worked hard to restore a level of trust and confidence . . . My belief is the agency is in much better shape today than it was when I arrived."
Also resigning Wednesday was Miles' chief of staff, Brett Rayman, who previously had served in a variety of jobs in state government following a 23-year career in the U.S. Marine Corps.
DMS is the administrative arm of state government and is responsible for personnel and purchasing and management of the state's extensive real estate holdings.
Steve Bousquet can be reached at bousquet@tampabay.com or (850) 224-7263.
Loading...
