Florida Governor Rick Scott

Rick Scott (full name: Richard Lynn Scott) is the 45th Governor of Florida. Having served in this official capacity since his swearing in on January 4th, 2011, Governor Rick Scott has centered his political career on helping build up Miami as one of the largest seaports in the United States. An example of his efforts to develop a stronger Port of Miami includes dredging the port so that it’s depth reaches 50 feet, thus allowing much larger vessels and cargo ships to dock and unload.

Rick Scott’s Early Years

Born December 1, 1952 in Bloomington, Illinois, Governor Scott’s early years showed a dedication to public service and politics. As a young adult, he served in the Navy as a radar technician for two years before moving on to earn a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. He later earned his law degree from Southern Methodist University, after which he married his wife, Ann.

After graduating, Scott practiced law at Johnson & Swanson in Dallas, Texas, where he was eventually made partner. In 1988, Scott and multimillionaire Richard Rainwater founded their own company, Columbia Hospital Corporation, through which they bought old hospitals, including many in South Florida. The venture was so successful that Business Week named it one of the best performing companies in the nation. A 1997 fraud investigation forced Scott out as CEO and Chairman. From then on until his venture into politics, Scott dabbled in several profitable investment schemes, and was even co-owner of the Texas Rangers baseball team with President George W. Bush.

Rick Scott’s Political Career

Scott’s political aspirations arguably began in 2009, when he campaigned for a Democrat-controlled Congress to pass legislature that would allow health care to operate based upon free-market principles. On April 9, 2010, Scott announced his campaign to run for Governor of Florida, and won later that August with 47% of the vote.

Since taking office, Governor Scott has focused much of his career on ensuring that Florida doesn’t accumulate a massive debt burden. In February 2011, Governor Scott rejected a $2.3 billion federal proposal to build a high-speed rail between Orlando and the south Florida area, citing the need to be fiscally responsible. Additionally, Governor Scott recently signed a bill that requires welfare applicants to submit to random drug screenings.

Contact Governor Rick Scott

If you would like to contact Governor Rick Scott, you can write to him at:

Office of Governor Rick Scott
The Capitol, State of Florida
400 S. Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001

You can also call the Office at (850) 488-7146 or send him an e-mail through his website. Governor Scott welcomes correspondence from residents of Florida sharing their thoughts on issues facing our community.