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Rick Scott

Richard Lynn Scott

    Rick Scott is a Republican elected governor of Florida in 2010. He defeated Democrat Alex Sink, the state's chief financial officer, in the closest governor's race since 1876. He also spent $73 million of his own money to introduce himself to Floridians, having no political experience and barely met residency requirements.

    Rick Scott is the former CEO of Columbia/HCA and also started Solantic. Scott was born Dec. 1, 1952, in Bloomington, Ill. He served in the Navy and graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and Southern Methodist University Law School. He and his wife, Frances Annette, have two adult daughters.

    

    • IN THE NEWS

    1. Don't write off Alex Sink running for Florida governor just yet

      06/18/13 NationalBy Adam C. Smith, Times Political Editor

      TAMPA — Alex Sink barely lost the 2010 governor's race to Rick Scott, and as she weighs whether to take him on again there is no shortage of armchair shrinks speculating about her thinking:

      In an interview with the Tampa Bay Times, Alex Sink spoke angrily about the direction of the state under Gov. Rick Scott — “I mean, pick a day. Read the newspaper. This governor’s incompetent.” — and was nearly as revolted by the prospect of former Gov. Charlie Crist as the Democrats’ nominee. “A disaster” is how she described the possibility.

    2. Florida alone, not any tax break, could lure Amazon to Hillsborough

      06/18/13 BusinessBy Michael Van Sickler, Times/Herald Tallahassee Bureau

      TALLAHASSEE — When Amazon expands, as it wants to in Florida, state and local governments practically line up to offer to pay the company to move.

    3. Gov. Scott gains ground in new Florida poll, but still trails Crist

      06/18/13 ElectionsBy Steve Bousquet, Times/Herald Tallahassee Bureau

      TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Rick Scott is more popular, according to a new poll by Quinnipiac University, but 50 percent of voters say he doesn't deserve to be re-elected and that he would lose handily to former Gov. Charlie Crist if the 2014 election were today.

      Rick Scott’s improved poll numbers likely reflect Florida’s improving economy, a pollster says.

    4. Steve Bousquet: Rick Scott's latest veto is simply wild

      06/17/13 GubernatorialBy Steve Bousquet, Tallahassee Bureau Chief <br /><br />

      Gov. Rick Scott's legacy is now secure.

      He'll forever be known as the governor who vetoed a bill involving a specialty license tag for wildflowers.

    5. PolitiFact: Bill Nelson says Rick Scott said no to $1 million to monitor health insurance rates

      06/16/13 State Roundup By Katie Sanders, Times Staff Writer

      Sen. Bill Nelson did not have high hopes when he pressured Gov. Rick Scott to veto an insurance regulation bill that Nelson said could harm consumers.

    6. Wildflower license plates get no respect from Scott

      06/14/13 Local Government By Michael Van Sickler, Times/Herald Tallahassee Bureau

      TALLAHASSEE — Florida's native wildflowers include 263 species that sprout in yards, gardens and along the road, a ubiquity that has relegated the plant to a mostly overlooked status.

      Gov. Rick Scott offered no explanation why he vetoed the Florida wildflower license.

    7. Gov. Rick Scott signs bill to speed up executions in Florida

      06/14/13 CrimeBy Mary Ellen Klas, Times/Herald Tallahassee Bureau

      TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Rick Scott signed a bill into law Friday aimed at accelerating the pace of the death penalty process in Florida, which could make the governor the most active executioner in modern state history.

    8. One month later, Florida lawmakers no closer to Medicaid deal

      06/14/13 LegislatureBy Tia Mitchell, Times/Herald Tallahassee Bureau

      TALLAHASSEE — Two House Republicans unwittingly revived hopes this month that lawmakers could compromise on a proposal to expand Medicaid.

    9. Emails show that Scott knew of insurance deal ahead of time

      06/14/13 BankingAssociated Press

      TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Rick Scott and other top state officials quickly distanced themselves last month from a controversial deal approved by Citizens Property Insurance Corp. to shift thousands of homeowners policies to a startup insurance company.

    10. Amazon deal could bring 1,000 jobs to Hillsborough, but more taxes for online shoppers

      06/13/13 BusinessBy Michael Van Sickler and Bill Varian, Times/Herald Tallahasee Bureau

      TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Rick Scott and Amazon announced a deal Thursday in which the Internet retail giant would create 3,000 new jobs in Florida by 2016 — with about a third of those likely headed for a 1-million-square-foot warehouse in Ruskin, a part of Hillsborough County desperately needing an economic …

      If Amazon does build physical locations in Florida, it means Floridians ordering from the retailer&#8217;s website would be required to pay a 6 percent sales tax.