Gov.-elect Rick Scott has established a one-year lobbying ban for any member of his transition team and designated the state’s current Sunshine Laws guru to serve as his open government coordinator.

Scott’s ethics code, released today, bars any member of his transition team for lobbying on behalf of any state entity for one year after leaving the team.

The code also requires team members to pledge “to act solely in the best interest of the people of the State of Florida, and to abide by all relevant laws. I further agree to perform only those activities that I have been directed to perform by an appropriate transition official and will use any information obtained in the course of those activities only for authorized purposes.”

Pat Gleason, currently Gov. Charlie Crist’s director of Cabinet Affairs and the special counsel for Crist’s Office of Open Government, will advise Scott, who’s never held office before, about the state’s broad public records and government-in-the-sunshine meetings laws.

Scott also tapped Chris Kise as his chief lawyer during the transition. Kise, a partner in the Foley & Lardner law firm, previously served as Crist’s general counsel and as solicitor general for the state.

Scott assumes office on Jan. 3.

Senate President-designate Mike Haridopolos tapped John Thrasher, head of the Republican Party of Florida, as chairman of the powerful Senate Rules committee and is keeping J.D. Alexander as budget chief.

Haridopolos, who officially takes over the helm on Tuesday, also assigned Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, to lead the chamber’s reapportionment efforts.

Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, called Gaetz’s assignment perhaps “the most challenging committee chairmanship of all” because he’ll have to operate under the new reapportionment system approved by voters on Election Day that prohibits drawing districts that favor incumbents or political parties. One of the two constitutional amendments revamping reapportionment is now being challenged in federal court.

Thrasher, a St. Augustine lawyer and lobbyist who also served as House Speaker, took over the troubled state GOP earlier this year but has said he would step down as chairman after the November elections.

Alexander, R-Lake Wales, has been in charge of the Senate’s budget for the past two years.

Alexander’s task isn’t an easy one either. He’s expected to have a $2.9 billion spending gap to manage, a new governor – Rick Scott – who wants to slash spending on state government and prisons, and no more federal stimulus funds to help plug the budget hole as he has for the past two years.

Gov.-elect Rick Scott scoped out the Capitol today for the first time since his election one week ago, meeting with Gov. Charlie Crist and House Speaker-designate Dean Cannon and staying on message about “getting the state back to work.”

A tight-lipped Scott took few questions from reporters after meeting briefly with Cannon, R-Orlando, and Crist, who said he and his successor had “a great talk.”

Scott said he asked Crist for his best advice on being the leader of the nation’s fourth-largest state.

“First thing he said was follow your heart, which makes all the sense in the world to me,” Scott told reporters during a brief photo op with Crist.

Scott said he has no problem with a bill lawmakers plan to override during a special session Tuesday that takes power away from the executive branch agencies’ ability to promulgate rules.

“I don’t think anybody’s trying to go after my power. They’re following through on things they believe in,” Scott said.

And the governor-elect said he has no plans to ask lawmakers to include an Arizona-like immigration reform bill during their one-day special session next week.

Instead, he launched into his campaign refrain about creating jobs.
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Gov.-elect Rick Scott will meet this afternoon with predecessor Charlie Crist this afternoon to discuss the transition to Scott’s administration. Scott will take over on Jan. 3.

Scott’s also meeting with House Speaker-designate Dean Cannon, R-Orlando, while in Tallahassee.

It will be the two governors’ first meeting since Scott defeated Democrat Alex Sink in Florida’s closest governors’ election in more than a century.

Senate President-designate Mike Haridopolos tapped Sen. Mike Bennett to serve as president pro tempore and Sen. Andy Gardiner as Senate Majority Leader.

Gardiner, R-Orlando, sponsored a controversial anti-abortion measure vetoed by Gov. Charlie Crist that would have required pregnant women to view a sonogram of the fetus and listen to a description of it before having an abortion. He was elected in 2008.

Bennett, R-Bradenton, is a moderate Republican elected in 2002.

While former Palm Beach County Circuit Judge Jorge Labarga retained his seat on the Florida Supreme Court last week, a tea party-connected group is patting itself on the back, saying its efforts gave him the lowest approval rating in state history.

In a press release this morning, the Orlando-based Citizen2Citizen said the 58.9 percent vote Labarga received on Tuesday is the lowest margin since the merit retention system began in 1978. They attributed the low margin to their efforts to unseat Labarga after he and four other justices voted to throw a Amendment 9 off the ballot.

The group, connected to the Central Florida Tea Party Council, also targeted Justice James E.C. Perry, who also voted to strike the amendment. Sixty-one percent of voters supported the retention of Perry.

“While we are disappointed that Labarga and Perry were retained, the fact that we made history is significant,” said Citizen2Citizen founder Jesse Phillips.

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Gov. Charlie Crist, once one of the state’s most popular governors, said he has no regrets about not running for reelection.

“I really haven’t. I get that question often. But it was time to move on. I’m happy with having made that decision,” Crist, who lost his U.S. Senate bid on Tuesday, told reporters before his penultimate Cabinet meeting this morning.
“And now I am moving on. In a different sense. Not to Washington, but I look forward to the future. I really do. As you know, I’m an optimist. I know there’s a lot to do. And I’m only 54 and I look forward to it. So, we’ll see you around,” Crist said.

Crist said he has high hopes for Gov.-elect Rick Scott, with whom he is slated to meet later this afternoon.

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Our Jose Lambiet reports over on Page2Live that incoming Republican congressman Allen West will name fiery radio talker Joyce Kaufman as his chief of staff. West has been a regular guest on Kaufman’s WFTL 850-AM show.

Palm Beach County Republican Chairman Sid Dinerstein intends to run for Republican Party of Florida Chairman.

Dinerstein, who’s held the county GOP’s top job for eight years, announced his intentions today in an e-mail asking Palm Beach County Republican Executive Committee members to reelect him as county chairman next month. If he’s reelected to the county post, Dinerstein would then be eligible to run for the state chairman’s job in January.

Palm Beach County could have two party chairmen running for state posts. County Democratic Chairman Mark Alan Siegel said last week he’s interested in running for Florida Democratic Party chairman if current chair Karen Thurman steps down.

Dinerstein is one of several GOP activists jockeying for the top RPOF job. Others who have announced or received mention include RPOF Vice Chair Deborah Cox Roush of Hillsborough County, RPOF National Committeewoman Sharon Day of Broward County, Pinellas County Republican State Committeeman Tony DiMatteo and Sarasota County GOP Chariman Joe Gruters.

Dinerstein plans a formal announcement of his statewide plans later this week.

Read his e-mail to county GOP members after the jump….

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U.S. Rep.-elect Allen West, one of two black Republicans elected to the House Tuesday, plans to join the Congressional Black Caucus.

Read about it in this week’s Politics column.

Conservative West would bring some ideological diversity to the all-Democrat, liberal-leaning caucus. It’ll also be interesting to see how he fits in after U.S. Rep. and Black Caucus member Alcee Hastings, D-Miramar, enlisted caucus members to campaign against West.

Meanwhile, South Carolina’s Tim Scott, the other black Republican elected last week, tells Politico.com he’s not sure whether he’ll join the caucus.

Palm Beach County Democratic Chairman Mark Alan Siegel denounced Democratic state Sen. Jeremy Ring and others calling for Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Karen Thurman’s resignation after Tuesday’s electoral bloodbath.

But if Thurman decides to step down in the middle of her four-year term, Siegel says he’s interested in her job.

“If she does retire, yes, I’m interested,” Siegel said.

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A bill that would have required septic tanks to be inspected every five years is on GOP leaders’ short list during a special session later this month.

Candidates throughout the state have heard an earful about the septic tank issue, especially from rural residents who complain about the cost of inspections and a blanket approach in the requirement instead of targeting older tanks.

The state health department estimates that more than half of the septic tank systems in use are more than 30 years old and no statewide inspection system is currently in place.

One solution proposed by House Speaker-designate Dean Cannon would be to delay implementation of the inspection program six months beyond the current Jan. 1 start-up date.

That would also give lawmakers time to come up with an alternative proposal during the regular session that begins in March.

Now that they’ve got a veto-proof majority in both the state House and Senate, GOP legislative leaders will override nine bills axed by Gov. Charlie Crist earlier this year as their first course of business later this month.

Senate President-designate Mike Haridopolos and House Speaker-designate Dean Cannon are holding the special session on the day they officially take over their chambers during the typically ceremonial organizational session beginning Nov. 16.

“We chose issues that had one or two negative votes, most, in the Senate, most of them unanimous,” Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, told reporters this morning. “Once we take these off the table, we can focus on jobs, jobs, jobs, because that’s what people care about.”

Lawmakers steered clear of two controversial measures – a bill that would have required pregnant women to view a sonogram before having an abortion and a measure (SB 6) that would have done away with teacher tenure.

Instead, most of the nine bills they selected received unanimous or near-unanimous approval.

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Gubernatorial candidate Alex Sink didn’t inspire the Democratic voter turnout she needed to win Tuesday’s election, and she wasn’t helped by a weak slate of statewide candidates, says Democratic strategist Screven Watson.

He pointed to “abysmal” voter turnout by black voters and a lackluster showing by Democrats in general.

“Was there an enthusiasm gap? Yes, there was,” Watson said. “But I don’t believe a gubernatorial candidate can make up that gap.”

Then there was the matter of the uninspiring choices across the Democratic ticket. Sink was the only Dem to make a statewide race close. U.S. Senate candidate Kendrick Meek got a paltry 20 percent of the vote, and Democrats running for chief financial officer and agriculture commissioner received less than 40 percent of the vote.

“She had nobody above her and she had nobody below her that were really pushing people out to vote,” Watson said.

FORT LAUDERDALE — Outsider-turned-Gov.-elect Rick Scott will get his transition advice from Tallahassee veterans, a lawyer from a powerhouse Washington firm and the head of the political committee Scott set up to oppose President Obama’s health care plan.

Republican Scott, with running mate Jennifer Carroll at this side, announced his transition team this morning.

A key adviser will be attorney Enu Mainigi, a partner with the Washington-based Williams & Connolly law firm who has advised Scott for about 15 years. The executive director of the transition will be Mary Anne Carter, a Tennessee attorney who headed Scott’s Conservatives for Patients Rights.

Scott’s transition advisory team includes former Lt. Gov. Toni Jennings, U.S. Sen. and former Charlie Crist chief-of-staff George LeMieux, former Miami mayor Maurice Ferre, former Jeb Bush aides Kathleen Shanahan and Sally Bradshaw, state Sen. Paula Dockery, state Rep. Mike Weinstein, former state Rep. Bill Galvano and Sweetwater Mayor Manny Marono.

Ferre, an unsuccessful Senate candidate this year who endorsed Scott in October, is the only Democrat on the team.

It’s no secret Florida’s new governor Rick Scott loves Starbucks.

While traveling throughout the state on a week-long bus tour, Scott’s convoy frequently made unscheduled stops at the coffee chain for quick pick-me-ups for Scott, his wife Ann and their two daughters.

The exuberant Scott surprised caffeine lovers at a Starbucks located a convenient two blocks away from the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina that’s turned into Scott’s post-election HQ for at least a few days.

“Hey look! That’s the guy who’s running for governor!” one of the workers behind the counter said as an exuberant Scott, accompanied by an FDLE agent, bounced into the cafe just a few hours after making his victory speech at the hotel.

Scott ordered his customary Chai tea latte (unsweetened) then posed for pictures with workers but at least one customer was unfazed by the new governor’s appearance.

“Who is that guy?” he asked, barely glancing up from his computer.

The young man, who did not give his name, is from England, and had apparently news about the overnight delay in the outcome of the governor’s election.

Scott will make an announcement about his transition team at the Hilton at 9 a.m. tomorrow morning.

U.S. Rep. Ron Klein, D-Boca Raton, came into office during the Democratic wave of 2006 and was swept out during Tuesday’s Republican tsunami. Klein got 45.7 percent against Republican challenger Allen West.

Here’s a statement Klein released this afternoon:

“This has been a hard-fought campaign, and the votes are in. My family and I are deeply grateful for the strength and support we have received from our friends and neighbors in this community.

“It has been an extraordinary honor and privilege to serve South Florida as a public official for the last 18 years. For most of my adult life, I have dedicated every waking hour to doing my level best for this community. It is my home, and where my wife Dori and I have raised our family. We love this community, and remain devoted to the families and businesses here, both today and tomorrow. We will always find ways to serve, because difficult times require everyday people to give of themselves to move this country forward.”

A buoyant Gov.-elect Rick Scott took the stage to declare victory more than 12 hours later than he expected but stayed on his message of bringing jobs to Florida and pledged to work with Democrats to achieve his goals.

“Today is the end of politics as usual in Tallahassee,” Scott told a crowd of several hundred supporters, some of whom waited until 2 a.m. to hear what they thought would be a victory speech earl this morning.

Scott made his appearance shortly after noon, about two hours after Democrat Alex Sink conceded her loss in the closest governor’s race in Florida’s history according to elections officials.

He acknowledged he had his work cut out for him after the bitter campaign marred by negative attack ads from both sides.

“To those of you who voted for my opponent, I know I have some work to do to earn your support. Starting today, I work for every Floridian,” Scott said.

Scott’s first words to the crowd echoed those he repeatedly made in stump speeches.
“Florida is open for business,” the health care executive said to cheers.

After thanking volunteers, Scott, who ran as an outsider and spent more than $73 million of his own fortune to move into the governor’s mansion, said that his victor over opponent Alex Sink proved that voters are tired of business as usual in the Capitol.

“There were plenty of pundits, politicians and insiders who said this victory was impossible,” Scott said.

Voters “sent a message loud and clear,” he went on. “They said, ‘Let’s get to work.’”

CORAL GABLES — Marco Rubio’s Senate victory has made him a national superstar, with pundits calling him the face of the new GOP and a key to reaching Hispanic voters. Before the results were all in Tuesday night, cable chatterers were also musing about Rubio as a potential vice presidential or presidential candidate in the future.

Rubio, who won’t be sworn in for another two months, downplayed such talk at a news conference today.

“It’s flattering and it’s fleeting,” Rubio told reporters at the Biltmore Hotel. “Politics is full of one-hit wonders, of people that stood in a room like this with a bunch of cameras and you don’t hear from them anymore. The truth is that soon you will all go off and cover something else and there’ll be somebody else out there who’s the flavor of the month.

” And I will still be a U.S. Senator. And people of Florida deserve to be represented and I’m going to have to continue to work hard….It’s not going to get to my head. In life one of the things that keeps you grounded is you surround yourself with people that are willing to tell you when you’re really doing something dumb. And I have been blessed with an abundance of people that are willing to do that.”

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Kendrick Meek’s campaign manager, Abe Dyk, said the Miami congressman spent the day with his family in Miami, and would take his wife and children to the airport this afternoon for their return to Washington D.C.

But Meek, who yesterday finalized an almost two-year campaign for the U.S. Senate, will remain in South Florida, Dyk added.

Earlier today, Dyk said his staff had given Meek the day off.

“I don’t think he’s had a day off in a year and 10 months,” Dyk said, adding that he had no information about what was next for Meek. 

“I’m not sure whether he knows what’s next,” Dyk said.

After speaking with supporters last night and congratulating Republican Marco Rubio on his victory, Meek said he was looking forward to sleeping in for a couple days. He also had plans to spend time with his family and enjoy one of his favorite hobbies — fishing.