TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida hasn't had a lieutenant governor for three months since Jennifer Carroll resigned after her involvement in an Internet gambling operation.
However, the state went without a second-in-command for 80 years prior to the latest constitution.
Now Gov. Rick Scott says that he is focusing on a successor to Carroll, who resigned on March 13.
"I'm going to do it in a methodical manner," Scott said.
Speculation is centering on another African-American woman, Orange County School Superintendent Barbara Jenkins. Scott singled her out in his State of the State address.
"We need to honor you for your commitment to the teachers in your district and your dedication to student achievement," Scott said.
And Jenkins was at his side as he fought for teacher pay raises.
"I want to commend the governor and the legislature for their work toward teacher pay raises," Jenkins said. "We are convinced that it is a time to reward our teachers for their hard work and for our great outcomes."
Frank Brogan left the job of elected Education Commissioner to be Jeb Bush's No. 2. He has this advice for Scott.
"Pick somebody you know, like and trust. Those are the three elements I think that are critical to the role of lieutenant governor," Brogan said.
The governor's office wouldn't return calls about their search for a lieutenant governor, but until they name someone, it would be the attorney general who would take over if something were to happen to Scott.
Jenkins would take more than a $100,000 a year pay cut if she took the lieutenant governor's job. She would also be joining an administration with an uncertain future.