Steve MacNamara Resigns: Rick Scott Chief Of Staff Exits Amid Scrutiny

This photo provided by the Florida Governor's Office, shows Steve MacNamara, Gov. Rick Scott's chief of staff. MacNamara resigned from his job on Saturday, May 12, 2012, following a series of news stories detailing his job performance and handling of contracts. (AP Photo/Governor's Office)

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida Gov. Rick Scott's chief of staff has abruptly resigned amid news stories examining his job performance and handling of contracts.

Steve MacNamara wrote in a resignation letter Saturday that he would step down July 1. He wrote that "recent media attention I have been receiving has begun to interfere with the day-to-day operations of this office."

The Associated Press recently reported that while working for the state Senate, MacNamara helped steer a $360,000 no-bid consulting contract to a friend who now leads a task force rooting out state government waste.

The Miami Herald and St. Petersburg Times reported about other contracts and how MacNamara clashed with one agency head over MacNamara's decision to let the state's film commissioner travel to the Sundance Film Festival in Utah.

MacNamara, who has been on unpaid leave from his job as a Florida State University professor, will be replaced by Adam Hollingsworth.

Comments

[guyview]

02:19 PM on 05/17/2012

He is no more crooked than scott.

[the99pct]

09:30 PM on 05/16/2012

If someone investigates Rick Scott and the Urgent Care business he transferred to his wife before inauguration we will see another crook leave Tallahassee in shame!

[mxytsplyk]

04:43 PM on 05/14/2012

Is that because he was abruptly caught?

[Diamond Nips]

02:11 PM on 05/14/2012

When you elect a medicare criminal this is what you get.

[the99pct]

09:28 PM on 05/16/2012

If defrauding Medicare had carried a mandatory life sentence, Rick Scott would be in San Quentin and not Governor's mansion in Tallahassee, FL and ordering drug testing for state Government employees!

[citizen49]

01:08 PM on 05/14/2012

If he is resigning, I expect he will be indicted very soon. What recourse do the people have when our politicans act like mini-monarchs of their very own fiefdoms? Too bad we don't have the power to fire them! I'm not talking about recalls or re-elections but actually firing them!

[cdecisneros]

03:37 PM on 05/14/2012

Who is going to indict him? Bondi? Don't make me laugh.

[Streit Rhoades]

12:01 PM on 05/14/2012

Florida's experiment with 'Griftocracy' will end up costing the state billions. If it hasn't already.

[sak]

11:35 AM on 05/14/2012

The rats are beginning to leave the ship of state.

[mgrant33301]

11:19 AM on 05/14/2012

steering contracts to friends is not ok?

oh, i forgot, im not a republican anymore.

[Republicanistan]

10:53 AM on 05/14/2012

"Dag Burn Letters, spelling words, making sentences and showing facts about what I have done...I blame the Public Education system for teaching people to read...:

[1LTUSMC]

12:40 PM on 05/14/2012

I believe the GOTP sees the danger of an informed electorate and is doing everything it can to make sure that the next generation is illiterate.

We have to do everything in our power to make sure the GOTP fails!

[byb9605]

10:39 AM on 05/14/2012

Good riddance Steve McNamara and hopefully, Florida voters will think twice about re-electing Rick Scott.

[mgrant33301]

11:19 AM on 05/14/2012

some of us didn't need to think once. we saw the crook for what he is. and yet, the rest of the voters apparently have amnesia regarding the investigation he paid off to keep himself out of jail.

[byb9605]

11:38 AM on 05/14/2012

Well, maybe this will be the wake up call for Florida voters need.
Rick Scott & Allen West in one state, my heart goes out to you!

[jeffie 3]

12:41 PM on 05/14/2012

I tried to explain to my fellow Floridians. If a man spends $73 million dollars of his personal money to get a $130,000.00 a year job. Well one of two things. He is going to make way more than the $130,000.00 some how. Or he just plain nuts. Ether way, we don't need someone like that as Governor.

[barkingcat]

10:07 AM on 05/14/2012

Kevin Spacey?

[Oonagh]

10:07 AM on 05/14/2012

I would bet that the media scrutiny has put a halt on what he was doing.....

[Joseph Norton]

10:06 AM on 05/14/2012

All of them are natural born crooks.

[George Broadway]

09:46 AM on 05/14/2012

"recent media attention I have been receiving has begun to interfere with the day-to-day operations of this office."

There goes that liberal media with its "facts" and "reporting" again; how dare they use your own actions and words to hold you accountable during your tenure as a servant to the people of the state of Florida.

[mgrant33301]

11:20 AM on 05/14/2012

the "liberal media" is controlled by rich republican jews. fact.

[Soulsurfer]

09:39 AM on 05/14/2012

"The Associated Press recently reported that while working for the state Senate, MacNamara helped steer a $360,000 no-bid consulting contract to a friend who now leads a task force rooting out state government waste."

Is this totally Orwellian or what?

[ohgoodgrief99]

12:28 PM on 05/14/2012

I noticed that too. "Newspeak" in action. "Ignorance is Strength!"