Haridopolos’ spokesman legs it to Lottery
by John Kennedy | July 6th, 2011The Capitol’s summertime job shuffling continues — with Senate President Mike Haridopolos’ spokesman David Bishop legging it next week for a job with the state Lottery Department.
No successor has been named yet by the Senate boss — whose office last month lost its chief-of-staff, Steve MacNamara, to Gov. Rick Scott. New Haridopolos chief Craig Meyer is also tasked with filling a couple Senate committee staff directors’ posts.
Bishop, a veteran lobbyist, political adviser and former TV reporter, will be a deputy secretary at the Lottery, overseeing marketing, communications and advertising. His $114,000 salary tops his Senate spokesman pay by $2,000.
Bishop joined Haridopolos’ office last September. The Senate president is headed for his final spring as a state lawmaker and is among a four-pack of Republican contenders seeking the party’s nomination to challenge Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson.
Balancing the role of lawmaker and statewide candidate is a tough juggling act. But Bishop said his departure was on his own terms for a job that is interesting, and provides some potential for longevity.
“We’ve done a great job of keeping the campaign and the official duties of Senate president separate,” Bishop said. “That’s not an issue at all. I’m leaving on my own timeline.”
Tags: David Bishop, Steve MacNamara, U.S. Senate
July 6th, 2011 at 1:56 pm
Great spin…he got sacked.
July 6th, 2011 at 4:10 pm
More like the rat jumping off the sinking ship (Hari’s ship, that is)! Hari is mired deeply in ethics and finance scandals, as most FL repubs these days! Rubio was in the thick of the same creditcard-gate scandal; where is the IRS investigation of this tax evasion? The way I see it, you either run for U. S. Senate or you accept illegal slush-fund money from the RPOF–but not both. Sayonara, Hari Mike!
July 6th, 2011 at 5:21 pm
I want David Bishop’s new job.
http://bit.ly/oqBVHG