Rubio hires Bush staffers

Gov. Jeb Bush may be leaving the state Capitol soon but some of his closest advisers are staying put.

Marco Rubio, incoming speaker of the House, said Wednesday that he is hiring 18 members of Team Bush, including budget director Mike Hansen, chief economist Don Langston and transportation guru Teresa Tinker.

Also coming on board in a consulting role: the governor’s first budget chief, Donna Arduin, a stickler for fiscal conservatism who went on to work with California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger before returning to Florida in 2005 to launch a consulting firm.

“Jeb Bush’s legacy is one of bold public policy and these are some of the staffers who helped him accomplish that. And bold public policy is also what we want to define us,” said Rubio, R-Miami.

The moves come a week after Rubio put at least 10 current House staffers on notice they might not have a job when he assumes power in November. For more detail, including the full list of hires, read tomorrow's Times.

Comments

Marco proving he has the wisdom to hire good staff -- looks like the Senate may have to keep on their toes.

Marco proving he has the wisdom to hire good staff and fire House Majority Director Frank Teriferma.

Frank T. is the best of the lot over there.

None better, 6:43 get your head out of the sand.

Terraferma is the best there is.

6:43 is clue-less.

That's honestly the first time I've ever heard someone suggest that Frank wasn't good at what he does. Guess it goes to show you anything and everything will be said on a blog.

If you want to see the work the Frank does, take a look at the 85-member majority in the House (that the current sad batch at RPOF will be unable to hold) and thank him for it.

These are good hires for Rubio for his speakership and his future.

Someone said the Senate has to stay on its toes. David Coburn has budget expertise that rivals Hansen's and Arduin's but, he's moving up to become Senate Chief of Staff.

The big question is, who is going to fill the vacuum in the governor's office?

Any leads on a Crist budget director or Chief of Staff?

[Roaring 20's]

I would expect George LeMiuex (sp?) to be C.O.S.

Beyond that, I suspect most department heads and staff positions are wide open.

[Amanda]

It was a pleasure working with Frank as House Majority Director and everyone knows what great work he does so I don't know what you're talking about. He's totally competent and great at what he does. Also, I don't know why the previous poster is acting like Frank is gone, b/c he is definitely still around and working hard for the upcoming elections.

Yeah, Frank is still on the payroll.

How wrong they are.

I am suprised these folks would work for state wages. Any word on who was fired?

frank t is a pro. not sure how many seats current regime running house races will win or lose. i do hear more about senate. credible sources have sebesta's seat going to dem justice, who's up 10 points. smith's seat too close to call.

Tinker is a refugee from Gallagher's sunk ship. What ideas does she have?

8:17 -- Oelrich is up big. Not sure where you get the too close to call.

Jennings doesn't play outside Gainesville.

8:17 - Berfield is winning. Your data is two weeks old.

8:48 is right. Berfield was down two weeks ago by 10 but that has since changed. Berfield has more cash, Justice is done.

Frank's a pro- possibly the best in the nation at state legislative races. He's right where he needs to be helping continue the Republican Majority.

what's up w/ the house races?

anyone has any fresh intelligence about: mcinvale, cappeli-heller, piccolo-kriseman, long-reeder, goldstein, corollo-garcia, rice-saunders?

did i leave out any of the hot races?

jovan, she will win

Tinker? Marco has hired that liberal commmie hack?!?!

Frank Terraferma is back at the RPOF working on races. He was not fired. Please stop trying to smear him.

Frank T rocks.

Two things disturb me here. First, anyone that suggests Frank T isnt a class act, and the best, least appreciated politico in the business is just misinformed and out of the loop.

Second, Teresa Tinker as a policy hire is downright scary for a "conservative" house administration. She doesnt have a conservative bone in her body. Yikes.

Doesnt look good for the Rs in these tossup house seats.

Kriseman is up 11
Capelli is down 1
John Q up a few
Saunders is up 10 over Rice (Thanks Sorenson)
Goldstein down 10 plus
Mcinvale down 14
Reeder is up 5 plus
Hooper up slightly
Surprisingly Hasner up big
Bogdanoff struggling
Corrollo who the hell knows its Miami (flip a coin and pay everyone off and see if A-DLP can finally win one)
Hukill struggling
Patterson up barely
Weatherford presumably up huge
Traviesa up huge huge
Cusack up huge
Pope up big for the Rs (good for them)
Nehr fighting for his life up only a couple
Havent heard anything on Fitzgerald-Benson or Holly Benson (assume both Bensons will win).

Looks like
Broward is a complete Repub meltdown and Clay Shaw in in the crapper once again.

Volusia is a total wildcard.

Pinellas/Hillsborough/Sarasota are very soft for Rs right now. Congressional race Jennings-Buchanan is going badly for Republicans. Not many Crist coattails in these counties.

Panhandle strong for Rs.

Rs lose between 5-10 seats.

Senate Side:

Olerich up humongous
Berfield still swimming upstream
Storms to storm Tallahassee
Constantine fine

Tinker is horrid. She's as liberal as the day is long. She is the most anti-private property rights person in Tallahassee.

8:22pm Does anybody really care what Gallagher thinks at this point... You bring him and we all have to ask HEllo WHY??? BEST ANSWER, HE HAD ANSWERS... AND MUTE POINT..leave it alone will ya??

Dems pick up 5 house seats, minimum. They have great candidates, great operation.

does rubio have any family members serving in iraq? why is it impossible to find any well-heeled republican warhawks with children in iraq? is military service only for the poor?

12:07 i would say yes brother.. you are on to something...

Dems have a shoddy operation. THey didnt even field candidates in key house races. They may win a bunch of seats, despite their own incompetence.

10:55, either your using some old data or just flat out making all that up, because I happen to know several of those that are WAY off.

WOW, he hired Theresa Tinker? Does he have any idea how liberal and hated she is by everyone who has to deal with her? BAD CHOICE RUBIO.

If we lose those positions in pinellas county, hwo would our county chairman fare? Would there be severe consequences? should there be?

Democrat House Caucus getting a lot of late money. A lot of GOP candidates lazy chumps. They will be the only winners this cycle.

one anti-Frank comment and 10 pro-Frank. Looks like most folks know how great of a person Frank is. That one comment must be from someone who couldn't pull their weight working for him.

There's not a candidate for the House in the last 10 years who doesn't owe a little of their success to Frank - but of course he would never admit that. We love you Frank!

[terminator]

Marco's just appeasing Jeb because he has ambitions to run for higher office down the road and needs to be able to tap into the Bush fundraising machine.

In a perfect world, all of these people should be given their walking papers on Dec. 31st, a thank you, firm handshake and "good luck" in whatever you do.

Although I'm sure some are capable, it's not about what you know but who you know.

Thought Jeb was the guy who was so against the proliferation of state bureaucrats? He obviously doesn't practice what he preaches (no surprise there).

The last thing in the world the state of Florida needs is Jeb Bush (redux). I say "off with their heads"!

Teresa Tinker is a class act and wise policy counselor. She represents the Governor well and will do great things for Speaker Rubio.

Diito what 10:32 Siad. Worked with both Teresa and Mike in Tally and both gave good advice. This will be the second time both have worked in House Approps so it isn't like they have no idea what they are doing...

HOW MANY SEATS WE LOSING IN PINELLAS?

Nehr fighting for his life? Youa re so full of crap. That district is perhaps the safest seat in florida except 54.

In Pinellas..MAYBE 1-2 and 48 isn't one of them. It is the second safest pub seat in the County

Way I see it the safe list goes like this from safest to weakest for pubs:

54
48
45
50
51
52
53
55

I agree, Tinker is wise. Problem is she's horridly liberal. It's not her wisdom we question but her principles.

Tinker is a holdover from the Democratic admin. She's just a token to keep the enviros from freaking out as much. She's one of them.

LOL, a wise policy counselor? Wise if your trying to buttress your resume with the wacko leftist environmental community. She's nothing more than a tree hugging democrat.

Dems have some very good House candidates. RPOF desperately misses Frank's steady hand. However, with as much money as they have, it may not matter either way.

I do hear Gelber is really starting to bring in cash. The question in Tallahassee is: what took so long to get fundraising in gear?

Tinker will be an asset to any organization.

10:55: Boyd/Pope is starting to flip. No longer a sure thing for the R's.

You Democrats are delerious. How do you pick up down-ticket seats when Crist is up double digits? Dream on.

Tinker is an asset if you want liberal, democratic policies. Now get off the blog Teresa and get back to your state job.

It's not personal. She's quasi-loyal and hard working. But she's a communist when it comes to private property rights.

Easy, easy on Tinker... she's smart and capable... and yes, she is a holdover, so what? Good governance doesn't require lockstep adherence.

As for Frank T., I don't get the bad stuff, he's a solid guy. Rubio will be well-served by these folks.

As for the EOG-- I remember reading the press clips in 1999 when all the Bush team were derided for being too "young." We'll probably see copy about Crist team being too unknown or getting a lot of crap for them being from Broward and so on...

Rubio knew what he was doing when he hired Eva Baxter. That woman is a hot hot babe. 10+!

As a bonus, she ahppens to be damned smart too.