In a bid to boost his efforts to contain the mounting tuitions in the state, Governor of Florida Rick Scott added five new members to the university governing board. The new board members consist of four businessmen and one lawyer, who share similar views on education.
Scott has expressed concerns over growing trend of tuitions for higher education in the state. He believes that this would add to the burden of the middle-class families and wants to contain it as much as he can. He also has plans to run for the office again in the 2014 elections.
"I'm going to appoint people who believe the way I do, that we've got to look at every way we can to figure out how to keep tuition as low as possible," Scott said in an interview, according to Miami Herald.
The five newly inducted governing members for the state university will contemplate on implementing new policies for education. Most of the members will serve in this capacity for a seven-year term.
However, the appointments are subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.
Here is the brief profile of appointees furnished in the Florida Governor's website:
Harry Wayne Huizenga, 51, of Delray Beach, is currently the president of Rybovich Boat Company and Huizenga Holdings, Inc. Huizenga received his bachelor's degree from the University of Tampa in 1985. He succeeds Hector Perez and is appointed for a term beginning January 10, 2013, and ending January 6, 2020.
Ned Lautenbach, 68, of Naples, is a retired partner from Clayton, Dubilier & Rice. Previous to this position Lautenbach spent 30 years with IBM where he served as vice president of sales and services. He is currently a board member of the Fidelity Investments and Eaton Corporation. Lautenbach received his bachelor's degree from the University of Cincinnati and his MBA from Harvard University. He fills a vacant seat and is appointed for a term beginning January 10, 2013, and ending January 6, 2019.
Alan Levine, 45, of Naples, is the senior vice president and Florida president of Hospital Management Services of Florida Inc. Previously, he served as the Secretary of Health for Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal and the CEO of Broward Health. Levine received his bachelor's degree and two masters degrees from the University of Florida. He succeeds Gus A. Stavros and is appointed for a term beginning January 10, 2013, and ending January 6, 2020.
Wendy Sartory Link, 48, of Palm Beach Gardens, is an attorney and managing partner with Ackerman, Link & Sartory, P.A. She is currently the chair of Florida Healthy Kids, Corp. and serves on the Palm Beach State College District Board of Trustees. Link received her bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina and her law degree from Duke University. She succeeds John W. Temple and is appointed for a term beginning January 10, 2013, and ending January 6, 2020.
Edward Morton, 65, of Naples, is a partner with Wasmer Schroeder & Co. Prior to this position he served as CFO and CEO of NCH Healthcare System until 2006. Morton received his bachelor's degree from the University of Notre Dame, his master's degree from Florida Gulf Coast University and an MBA from the University of Miami. He fills a vacant seat and is appointed for a term beginning January 10, 2013, and ending January 6, 2020.