Cabinet names Fish and Wildlife LEO to head Highway Safety

The Cabinet just named Col. Julie Jones, chief of law enforcement for the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, head of the Division of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles -- one of the state's largest and most high-profile agencies.

"These are dedicated individuals. This is a good agency," Jones said of DHSMV. "I really appreciate this."

Jones, 52, will replace Electra Bustle, who this month announced her plans to resign for a job in the private sector. Bustle has not disclosed where she will work, saying she wants to wait until she officially ends her tenure at the DHSMV.

She originally planned to leave the DHSMV on Sept. 15 but agreed to stay an extra two weeks because only one person -- Bustle's chief of staff, Larry Ringers, former chief of staff to Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp -- had applied for the job overseeing 4,500 employees and a budget of nearly $400 million.

Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson lauded Jones, saying she has long had a stellar reputation.

"I want to commend her for the outstanding service she has already given to the state of Florida, and I hope it continues to take you to great places," Bronson said.

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Comments

[On the street]

Electra is going to Southern Strategies.

[message for larry]

Well hope Ringer gets the message, stop trying to feed on the publics dime and go back to your day job! you already have had enough opportunities.

[get a grip]

Message - Because you possess the ability to make yourself look like an idiot doesn't mean you have to. Larry Ringers is an honorable and decent man. He had a successful career in Southwest Florida before uprooting his family to serve in Tallahassee - For significantly less money. The "trough" has provided slim pickings for a good man.

[11:04]

Anyone who has worked with Larry in even the most remote way can tell you he's the last guy in the world who would deserve derision. Larry is the type of person who would be honest to his own detriment.

Following the recent appointments of Lemiuex, Rowe, and others, I bet the governor is simply avoiding any further cries of cronyism.

[Got it right?]

From what I have heard, Electra Bustle was asked for a list of suggested successors, which turned out to be Ringers and Korst (the current assistant director).

Neither one "applied" for the job, but both agreed to be considered and interviewed.

Apparently, Electra Bustle was ignored.

[Terry]

Actually, not quite right. Korst asked not to be considered and Electra strongly supported Jones once she was being considered. Not sure Electra ever recommended Ringers. As much as Tally likes a good story, there's no conspiracy here.

[Not Juicy]

There's really nothing in all this - Korst and Ringers are both good people who've worked hard and know their stuff. Apparently Jones is a better pick, but that doesn't mean there's any deep dark reason why the other two didn't get it.

[former FMP officers]

hip hip horray!! hip hip horray!!!

[Get the name right]

Former FMP "officers." Ha Ha. Is that like when they were called Grouper Troupers.

Ha Ha Ha. Now she is in charge of Troopers.

[How do we address her now?]

Will Col. Jones no longer be a Colonel since she was that at another agency? HSMV head is Executive Director or just Director.
Will there be Colonel Jones and Colonel Czernis?
Will they greet each other in the hall Colonel, yes Colonel?
Not that there is anything wrong with that.
While @ FWC no skeletons could be found with her name on them. Not that there were any.
Welcome Director Jones. I know you will do well.

[Steve]

INSIDER'S REPORT: FL DHSMV DIRECTOR BUSTLE RESIGNING DUE TO PENDING LITIGATION FILED AGAINST HER.

Sources inside the Dept say that former FHP Col Knight has filed a letter of intent to sue Bustle and the Department regarding his termination.

Despite Crist's stated "Open Gov't" philosophy, the FL DHSMV is not responding to public record requests.

Evidence (sworn testimony) has also surfaced that the former FL DHSMV General Counsel, Judd Chapman, knew that Col Knight had tampered with evidence during former FHP Major Tharpe's EEOC investigation and that he said nothing about it. Instead of asking the state prosecutor and the FL Bar to investigate, Bustle demoted him.

Bustle then hired Robin Lotane as her General Counsel after Lotane had been fired by States Attorney Willie Meggs in Tallahassee for wrongfully prosecuting a man for murder.

That's right! Lotane betrayed the public trust and wrongfully prosecuted a man for murder and then Bustle hired her to be the top legal official at the FL DHSMV. Wonder what the heck is going on yet? Wait, it gets better.

A dozen Dept hearing officers reported an ongoing abuse of admin authority within the FL DHSMV that has resulted in the violation of thousands of drivers' civil rights. Over two dozen Florida attorneys supported the corruption complaint. FL Appellate Judges have been awarding damages to the drivers because the public is being prosecuted in bad faith.

Crist and the FL Cabinet have copies of the evidence and they have refused to permit FDLE to investigate the ongoing abuse of authority, thereby blocking evidence of official misconduct from being presented to a grand jury.

Want verification? Make a public record record to Crist, McCollum, and Sink. Reference the public corruption complaint that was filed with FL AG Crist on 09/11/06 regarding the FL DHSMV. Review the evidence for yourself. See what the Florida media has refused to report.

Yes, there is a definite need for change in leadership within the FL DHSMV. Bustle did nothing to change the culture of corruption that exists within the Dept after Fred Dickinson was fired.

Floridians need a leader in this state agency who will uphold the rule of law instead of playing partisan politics with Crist and the FL Cabinet.

The Dept generates over $2 billion in fees a year. Money is obviously more important than protecting the civil rights of the Florida motoring public.

Many are questioning whether Jones has the credentials or the political independence to stop the ongoing abuse of authority.

Another wonderful Crist legacy ...

Stay tuned - more to come.