Right Decision for Wrong Reason

Post # 373, Bob McKnight's Florida Political Commentary

The Florida House Speaker Sends a Message to the Governor from President Trump

In 2023, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis made a move to gain the Republican nomination for President against former President Donald Trump. It seemed like DeSantis's only alternative, as Trump was not withdrawing from the race to challenge DeSantis, former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, or anyone else.

That being the case, DeSantis felt he had to "take the gloves off" to fight for the nomination. Since Trump originally pulled DeSantis out of obscurity to become the Governor of Florida, Trump felt betrayed. The nastiness between Trump and DeSantis continued and grew until today. That feud boiled over to the current DeSantis fight with the Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez, particularly on the selection of Presidents of public universities.

DeSantis has used his re-election as a mandate and has pushed his powers well beyond historic limits. One example is DeSantis' singular push for higher education appointments to the state's 12 public universities. Perhaps the most notable was the disastrous appointment of former U.S. Senator Ben Sasse as President of the prestigious University of Florida. DeSantis also pushed a former Speaker of the Florida House as the controversial President of the New School in Sarasota. Neither appointment had any educational experience nor faculty support. National critics suggest both universities have lost prestige and honor from the selections.

I recall my colleague in the legislature and former Governor Bob Graham pointed out that the appointments to head our public universities should be sought by independent bodies and based on educational experience. That responsibility under Graham was led by the Board of Governors, appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate. Members of the Board of Governors were seen as the most important appointment in state government. DeSantis has violated that sagacious guideline, and the current Speaker is pushing legislation to exclude the Governor from the selection of public university presidents. The legislation is seen by some as a payback from President Trump toward DeSantis.

It would be good for the legislature and the governor to recognize the wisdom of former Governor Graham's advice--seek appointments through a distinguished panel of independent Floridians, from which the Governor could select the president.

It would not have to be a selection for the head of a university by exclusion of a governor being punished by the President.

It would be the right decision for the wrong reason.