by Jim Saunders
The News Service of Florida
The Florida Public Service Commission plans to “cast a wide net” to hire a new executive director but won’t appoint an interim director during what could be a months-long search.
Commissioners backed away Wednesday from a proposal by Chair Art Graham to temporarily appoint General Counsel Curt Kiser to run the agency. The decision came a day after the PSC accepted the resignation of Executive Director Tim Devlin, who was ousted by Graham.
Graham had asked Kiser, a former state senator, to serve as interim executive director for about six months. But Commissioner Eduardo Balbis, said he was concerned about “spreading people too thin,’’ particularly with Kiser also a key player on PSC-related legislative issues.
“If we could clone Curt several times, it would be great,’’ Balbis said.
Kiser, however, will at least temporarily take on the extra duty of overseeing the regulatory agency’s public information office. Also, Deputy Executive Director Charles Hill will manage the PSC’s internal issues.
Commissioners discussed the executive-director’s job during what is known at the agency as an “internal affairs” meeting. But like during a full-fledged PSC meeting Tuesday, they gave no explanation about why Graham asked Devlin to resign —- or why other commissioners agreed to accept the resignation.
Devlin, a 35-year veteran of the agency, became executive director in January 2010. He did not attend the meetings Tuesday or Wednesday.
Commissioners indicated they expect to advertise nationally for a replacement — and also grappled with doing a search while complying with the state’s open-government laws. Graham said advertisements could go in trade magazines.
Commissioner Lisa Edgar, the longest-serving PSC member, said the agency needs an executive director who has experience dealing with large amounts of technical information. But she also added another important intangible: a “thick skin.’’
“I would like to cast a wide net,’’ Edgar said.
Graham asked Commissioner Julie Brown to oversee the search. But that spurred questions about complying with the state’s Sunshine Law, which requires meetings of two or more commissioners to be open to the public.
Some government agencies have long complained that the Sunshine Law hampers efforts to fill high-ranking positions. They contend, at least in part, that people might be dissuaded from applying for jobs if they run the risk of current employers finding out.
Graham said Brown could narrow the list of potential candidates before other commissioners would get involved in public discussions. Graham said the PSC is not trying to get around the Sunshine Law.
“This process needs to be as open as possible,’’ he said.