It was about 3 p.m. Tuesday when Jim Overton finally made it to the podium to be interviewed for the executive director’s job at the Florida Department of Revenue.
To begin what he later called “kind of an out-of-body experience.”
Overton had been there since the Florida Cabinet began its monthly meeting at 9 a.m. So had the other three candidates.
They had sat through a full agenda, including several awards being handed out, multiple departmental reports and a clemency board issue. The eclectic mix reminded Overton of his days on Jacksonville City Council, on which he served from 1992-2003.
Overton declined to make an opening statement, instead opting to dive right in and take questions.
What is your management style? “Kind of participatory,” he said, by getting people interested in what the decision is and how they’ll be impacted by that decision.
What prepared him to lead the department and its 5,100 employees? Overton pointed to a career in public service, which also includes a dozen years as Duval County property appraiser. He also cited seeing a large government in action, pointing to Jacksonville’s $1 billion budget.
His perceptions of the department? Overton felt it should take a more sympathetic view of property appraisers around the state and develop a sense of trust with the public.
He shared the story of when one of his businesses went through a sales tax audit. He described the man who did the audit as brusque and unhelpful.
“He lived in my office for two months,” Overton said, reviewing every invoice for a three-year period for the business that was closed before the audit.
Initially, the department said Overton owed $15,000. The audit revealed the amount was about $1,200.
He admits to being nervous for the interview, which lasted about seven minutes.
“Job interviews aren’t typically held in public meetings with cameras running,” Overton said afterward. “It was a little light on substance.”
Leon Biegalski, deputy secretary of the state Department of Business and Professional Regulation, was the final candidate to be interviewed.
He spent twice as much time being questioned by Cabinet members Gov. Rick Scott, Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater, Attorney General Pam Bondi and Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam.
Almost immediately after Biegalski’s interview ended, Scott made a motion to hire him at a salary of $150,000. The other Cabinet members seemed surprised by the quick motion, instead wanting to have a discussion before voting on a candidate.
But it didn’t take long.
Bondi soon agreed with Scott and Putnam followed. Atwater, despite saying he might feel stronger about another candidate, knew he was outnumbered.
“I can count,” he said, with a laugh.
Atwater wanted the choice to be unanimous for Biegalski’s selection and joined the majority.
Last week, Atwater backed Overton, according to the News Service of Florida.
Overton said he had seen Atwater a couple of times on bills for the property appraiser’s association. He wasn’t pre-interviewed by Atwater’s office — only Scott’s and Putnam’s.
Biegalski will replace Marshall Stranburg, who accepted a job as deputy executive director of the Multistate Tax Commission.
Overton, 63, isn’t sure if he’ll seek another job in politics.
“I’m well-credentialed in the public sector,” he said, referring to his master’s in public administration and numerous other classes. “But I’m not in the public sector.”
If the right political seat came open, he might a shot.
But for now, he’ll concentrate on his career as a Realtor. with ERA Davis & Linn.
In fact, after leaving the interview Tuesday, Overton was heading to a real estate conference in Orlando.
But he had to make a quick stop first.
Overton didn’t eat when the Cabinet took a 30-minute lunch break about noon. He figured the meeting would be over in another hour, so he waited.
He decided to soothe his hunger pains and mixed feelings about not getting the job with a hamburger, small fry and vanilla milkshake.
An unusual choice for someone who’s not much of a fast-food connoisseur.
But on Tuesday, he wanted comfort food in a paper sack.
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