DEP, FDOT secretaries quit; Cabinet seeks replacements

TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet will begin exploring today how to replace Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Jon Steverson, who, with Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Jim Boxold, is leaving the administration midway into the governor’s fifinal term.

Steverson, who has had a rocky two years running his agency, quietly submit- ted his resignation from the $150,000-a-year job Friday.

Boxold formally resigned from his $141,001-a-year job Monday.

The last day with the state for Steverson and Boxold will be Feb. 3.

Scot t , i n prai s i ng B oxold’s “leadership,” quickly announced that Rachel Cone, the assistant secretary for fifinance and administration, will serve as interim secretary starting Feb. 4.

Boxold has served as secret ar y of the t ranspor t a- tion agency for two years. Shortly after his resignation was announced, Capital City Consulting announced he was joining the Tallahassee-based group’s team of lobbyists.

Steverson will join the Fo l e y L a rd ne r l aw f i r m, which was the landing spot for his predecessor, Herschel Vinyard.

Unlike most agency heads who answer only to the governor, Steverson’s position falls under Scott and the Cabinet.