Commissioner Jim Sebesta also pointed to political ties when calling Howse “the best choice.”
“He’s built things. He’s owned companies,” Sebesta, a former state senator, said. “He’s very politically connected, which is not a bad thing, that’s a good thing, especially when the good guy is winning.”
Scott will pick from the shortlist that will be approved by the commission on Wednesday.
Howse left the video conference call after his interview — he went first — and did not participate in the shortlist discussion.
All seven of the commissioners who participated in the entire call on Thursday named Howse among their shortlist selections.
Six of the commissioners named Phillip Gainer, a department district secretary, and Richard Biter, a former department assistant secretary.
Gainer also drew praise for his engineering experience.
Biter was a finalist last year to run the business-recruitment agency Enterprise Florida. His son Jesse has been appointed twice by Scott to the Enterprise Florida board,
