By JIM TURNER
THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA
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THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, May 11, 2017……… Florida’s next transportation secretary could come from the panel making recommendations.
Members of the Florida Transportation Commission will formalize a shortlist of three finalists for secretary next week after interviewing five candidates Thursday.
But the shortlist that will be sent to Gov. Rick Scott appears already set, with Commissioner Ronald Howse of Orlando — the president of an engineering and land planning company — the apparent top pick of other members of the commission.
Besides engineering experience and knowledge of the state Department of Transportation and the road- and bridge-building industry, Howse got high marks for his ties to Scott and Tallahassee.
“I think we have some very complicated issues in the next year-and-a-half, with the governor possibly running for the U.S. Senate, I think the person that is secretary has to be one that can pick up the phone and call the governor,” said Commissioner Maurice Ferre of Miami. “And not everybody can do that.”
