Gov. Scott Appoints St. Joe Exec to Lead Growth Management Agency

Gov. Rick Scott has appointed an executive of one of Florida's largest land development companies to oversee the state department charged with managing growth.

Billy Buzzett, vice president of the St. Joe Co., will take over the Department of Community Affairs, the state's land planning and community development agency that Scott is eager to overhaul.

Scott's office issued a news release about the appointment Wednesday night. Scott also announced that former Secretary of State Kurt Browning will return to the job he retired from eight months ago and that Michelle Rhee — the controversial former chancellor of Washington, D.C., public schools — will continue in her role as an "informal education adviser" to Scott.

Environmentalists see the appointment of Buzzett as another sign that Scott — in his quest to create jobs and spur Florida's economy — will allow developers to run rampant over the state's natural resources. On Monday, Scott appointed a shipbuilding executive as his top environmental regulator.

Buzzett led the master planning of more than 100,000 acres and entitled more than 30,000 residential units during his eight years at St. Joe. The North Florida real estate company gave the maximum $25,000 contribution to Scott's inauguration. [Source: St. Petersburg Times]