On September 23, 2014 the Florida State University, Board of Trustees will make the final decision on the appointment of the new President of the Florida State University. The four finalists include Florida State Sen. John Thrasher. Senator Thrasher has made clear that if he gets the job he will step down from the Legislature. The question is, when will he step down if selected?
This reminds me of the selection Massachusetts Senate President Billy Bulger as President of the University of Massachusetts in 1995.
Thrasher is currently running for reelection in the upcoming November general election. Considering that Thrasher is selected as FSU President, this leaves the voters in St. Johns, Flagler, Putnam and Volusia counties with the possibility of three different scenarios.
1. If Senator Thrasher resigns before the general election on November 4, GOP leaders and operatives in St. Johns, Flagler, Putnam and Volusia counties would SECRETLY work as a team to select Thrashers replacement. Senators Thrasher’s name would remain on the ballot, but all votes for Thrasher would go to the person those GOP leaders choose.
THE VOTERS WOULD BE VOTING FOR A GHOST CANDIDATE.
2. If Senator Thrasher is selected as the President of the Florida State University and chooses to resign after the general election in November, Governor Rick Scott will call a special election. The cost of this special election to the taxpayers could run in excess of $1,150,000.
3. Thrasher, if reelected and selected as the President of the Florida State University and his appointment does not become effective until December 1, 2014, could continue to hold his seat in the Florida Senate until the first of December. In the meantime, as a Florida State Senator he would be able to participate in committees, budget hearings and make recommendations which would or could affect his constituents and possibly the Florida State University.
Governor Rick Scott will then call a special election which costs could possible run far in excess of the above proposed $1,150,000 due to an increase in the potential number of candidates and “vote by mail” ballots and early voting (if permitted by the Governor and Secretary of State).
IS THRASHER REALLY RUNNING FOR OFFICE?
Documents indicate that Thrasher has only $52,000 left in his current campaign chest. It also appears Thrasher has not raised any money in 6 out of the last 10 reporting cycles. Senator Thrasher has only raised $18,000 since April. Thrasher didn’t spend any funds in his last reporting cycle.
In 2012, John Thrasher spent over $500,000 against Kathleen Trued. It appears he was seriously seeking reelection then as he raised almost $325,000 between April and September 2012.
Is Thrasher counting on becoming FSU president? He isn’t even concerned about this race. Or does John Thrasher think he is a shoe in?
Appears the only candidate truly running for office is KATHLEEN TRUED, his opponent.
[Billy Bulger was first elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1960, to the Massachusetts State Senate in 1970. Bulger was elected President of the Massachusetts State Senate in 1978. Bulger was appointed President of the University of Massachusetts by the Board of Trustees on November 28, 1995. Bulger was forced to resign from the office of President of the University of Massachusetts after he refused to testify in a 2003 Congressional hearing about communications he had had with his then-fugitive brother, James “Whitey” Bulger, Jr.]