Brian Hughes, Rick Scott’s deputy communications director, is the latest gubernatorial staffer to make a career change – heading to the Florida Republican Party as its spokesman.

Hughes will take over from Trey Stapleton, who worked on Scott’s campaign. Stapleton is heading to Washington, D.C., and Hughes will become the new RPOF spokesman within the next two weeks, as the party gears up to serve as host for next summer’s Republican National Convention, in Tampa.

Hughes teamed with Scott communications director Brian Burgess to form what around the Capitol became known as the “two Brians,” a pair of aggressive defenders and promoters of the governor’s agenda. But with Scott marking his six-months in office on July 4, the governor’s office has lately undergone some door-swinging.

Scott chief-of-staff Mike Prendergast exited to the state Department of Veterans’ Affairs and top adviser Mary Anne Carter headed to her Tennessee home and a still-to-be-made-public 2012 political campaign. New chief-of-staff Steve MacNamara hasn’t said it, but clearly among his duties will be trying to improve Scott’s barnacle-scraping poll numbers.

A Rick Scott spokesman Friday acknowledged that the governor’s office staff was wrong to keep a handful of sign-carrying Democratic protesters away from his budget-signing last week at The Villages, the Central Florida retirement community.

Brian Burgess, Scott’s communications director, said there was “confusion among event staff, including an employee of the governor’s office,” about whether the signing of the $69.1 billion state budget was a “public or private” event.

“Although it was held on private property that was reserved for the event, the public was invited to attend,” Burgess said. “ The field staffer should not have participated in decisions related to event attendance or admission to the venue.”

Sumter County Sheriff’s deputies chased off a couple dozen protesters wearing blue, ‘Vote Democratic’ T-shirts and carrying signs at the budget-signing last week, that was organized by the Florida Republican Party and web-streamed on the party’s site.

Deputies, however, apparently acted on the orders of Russ Abrams, a Scott assistant, who told one reporter the budget-signing was a private event. Scott press secretary Lane Wright last week said the governor had nothing to do with stiff-arming the protesters.

For his part, Scott on Thursday said that he would look into the week-old controversy. That came after West Palm Beach Democratic Rep. Mark Pafford wrote the governor earlier this week, demanding an explanation.

“It’s interesting an apology didn’t occur,” Pafford said Friday evening, when told of Burgess’ statement. “It appears that the governor is acknowledging that mistakes were made. But I would think part of the message would be, ‘I apologize.’”

Here’s the video of last week’s exchange between deputies and protesters:  http://bit.ly/lCydCl

.Gov. Rick Scott met with the Capitol press corps for the first time since his swearing-in on Tuesday and before the governor even reached the podium Scott’s spokesman laid out some new rules.

Brian Burgess told reporters that the days of chasing the governor out of his large conference room into the antechamber that leads to his private sanctum are over.

Reporters will remain seated until Scott leaves the room, Burgess instructed.

On the campaign trail and after his election, Scott remarked several times that he was shocked at the chaotic Q-and-A exchange between elected officials and the media.

(When he was confronted by the Capitol press corps for the first time after filing his papers to run this spring, Scott did not know what a press “gaggle” was.)

That’s all over.

The well-heeled Scott, who places a high priority on politeness, wants a more polished atmosphere in his interactions with the press.

“My goal is I want to have a positive working relationship. You have a job to do, report what’s going on.
I just want to make it organized,” he told reporters during a scheduled 15-minute press conference that ran a bit long.

The typically obstinate press corps dutifully followed Burgess’ instructions and remained politely seated while Scott made his exit.

Burgess gave the media “an A++” for being so obedient

Gov.-elect Rick Scott has hired a military lifer, a Jeb Bush ally, and his long-time policy adviser to serve as his chief lieutenants when he takes over on Jan. 4.

Scott today named Mike Prendergast as his chief of staff. Prendergast is a U.S. Army colonel who lost a bid for Congress last month.

Scott tapped his close friend Mary Anne (“Mac”) Carter as his “senior policy adviser,” a powerful post in which she will oversee the Office of Policy and Budget.

Hayden Dempsey, a Tallahassee lobbyist and lawyer with Greenberg Traurig, will take over as Scott’s special counsel and oversee legislative affairs. Dempsey once served as Gov. Jeb Bush’s legislative affairs director and deputy general counsel.

Jon Costello, who works for lobbyist Gary Rutledge and worked on Scott’s campaign, will head up legislative affairs. Rutledge is a Scott ally whose lobbying clients include South Florida racetracks.

Brian Burgess, who’s served as Scott’s campaign communications chief, will hold on to the post once Scott
becomes governor. Burgess also helped with Scott’s previous political venture, Conservatives for Patients’ Rights, a group aimed at preventing President Obama’s health care law from being passed.

Read the team’s biographies from Scott’s press release after the jump.
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