Agency for Health Care Administration Liz Dudek retired as Secretary of Agency for Healthcare Administration on October 3rd. She has served in this role since 2011 and has been an employee with the State of Florida for more than 40 years. Dudek will serve as director of healthcare affairs in the Tallahassee office of law firm Greenberg Traurig. Justin Senior, who currently serves as Deputy Secretary of the Division of Medicaid, will serve as Interim Secretary. Beth Kidder will replace Senior as the interim Deputy Secretary for Medicaid. Kidder previously served as assistant deputy secretary for Medicaid policy and quality.
Florida State Fair Cheryl Flood has been appointed by Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam as executive director of the Florida State Fair. Flood has served as an interim director for the last 6 months.
Florida Veterans’ Hall of Fame On September 20th, the Florida Cabinet inducted the following veterans into the Florida Veterans’ Hall of Fame: Reubin Askew, 1st Lt. USAF; Spessard Holland, Capt. Army Air Corps’; LeRoy Collins, LT j.g. USN; William Proctor, Capt. USAR; Jordon Corbett, Sgt. USA; Washington Sanchez, COL USA (Ret); Kevin Delaney, RADM USN (Ret); John Stewart, CMSgt USAF (Ret); Dennis Freytes, Lt. Col. USA (Ret); Frederick Taylor, Jr. Lt. Col. USA (Ret); David Goetsch, SGT, USMC.
Chipola College President Jason Hurst resigned October 18th after more than two years leading the Marianna state college. Sarah Clemmons will act as interim president.
Florida Agriculture and Mechanical University Dr. Elmira Mangum stepped down as president of FAMU after a September 15th meeting of the university’s trustees. The trustees rejected a move to extend her contract, set to expire in April. Dr. Larry Robinson will serve as interim president, a position he has held twice before.
University of West Florida Dr. Martha Saunders has been selected by the UWF Board of Trustees as their 6th president, subject to the approval of the State University System’s board of governors. Saunders previously served as the University’s provost and replaces Dr. Judith Bense, who has been president since 2008.
Jaryn Emhof has been named chief of staff and communications director for Republican Congressman Daniel Webster. Emhof previously served as Vice President of Communications at the Foundation for Excellence in Education.
Reggie Fullwood Representative Reggie Fullwood (D-Jacksonville) pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of failure to file an income tax return on September 29th. Fullwood resigned from the Florida House of Representatives and suspended his reelection bid. Tracie Davis was chosen by local party leaders to take Fullwood’s place as the Democratic candidate for House District 13. Fullwood’s name will remain on the November 8th ballot, but his votes will instead go to Davis. Davis faces Republican Mark Griffin in the general election.
Kathy Mears has been named chief legislative affairs officer for Florida State University. Mears previously served as Chief of Staff to House Speaker Steve Crisafulli (R-Merritt Island).