Florida Governor Eyes Louisiana Official to Replace Insurance Chief McCarty

Florida Governor Rick Scott is looking for a replacement for the state’s top insurance regulator and has already contacted a potential candidate from Louisiana.

Scott’s office has confirmed that the governor contacted Ron Henderson, Louisiana deputy insurance commissioner for consumer advocacy, as a possible replacement for Florida’s current insurance commissioner, Kevin McCarty, who has headed the Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) since 2003.

McCarty has reportedly been targeted for replacement as part a shake-up of top officials by Scott as he embarks on his second term.

In a letter to Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater, Scott called for new heads of the OIR, the Office of Financial Regulation and the Department of Revenue.

McCarty serves at the pleasure of the state’s Financial Services Commission, which is made up of state Cabinet officials CFO Atwater, Attorney General Pam Bondi and Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam, along with the governor.

By law, Scott and Atwater must first agree on any candidates to replace current department heads.

Through a spokesperson, Atwater’s office said he has not been contacted about Scott about a replacement for McCarty.

Louisiana Commissioner of Insurance Jim Donelon chose Henderson to be the deputy commissioner of consumer advocacy for the insurance department in November 2012. Henderson and his staff receive inquiries and complaints from consumers and prepare information for the public on consumer issues.

Henderson began his career with the Louisiana department in 1998 as a student worker in the property/casualty division and later in licensing. After receiving his law degree, he was promoted to the position of attorney in the legal division in 2000. In June 2001, Henderson was appointed deputy commissioner of licensing and compliance, a position he held until leaving in August 2011. Henderson returned to the legal division in February 2012 as part of its legislative team and later that year was named to head consumer affairs.