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Rep. Rudy Bradley, who was ousted after a switch to the GOP, would be paid $123,000.
By ALISA ULFERTS
© St. Petersburg Times, published October 27, 2001
TALLAHASSEE -- Former state Rep. Rudy Bradley stunned his fellow Democrats when he supported Republican Gov. Jeb Bush in 1998, then defected to the GOP the next year.
The move cost him; he was soundly defeated in his bid for state Senate the next year.
Now the former St. Petersburg resident is asking Bush for a slot on the Public Service Commission, for which he would be paid $123,000 to regulate the state's utilities.
Bradley's name is on a list of seven the PSC nominating council has sent to Bush for consideration as two positions become available. Bradley had his 20-minute interview with Bush on Friday. Bush has interviewed all the applicants, according to a spokeswoman.
"We talked about my application," Bradley said Friday evening. His experience on House committees that handle utilities regulation qualifies him for the PSC slot, Bradley said.
Bush didn't tell Bradley when he would make his decision, but the governor has until Dec. 1.
Bradley's current employer is the state Department of Education, where he coordinates alternative education programs. Bradley served in the House from 1994 to 2000, during which he also worked for the Pinellas County School District as a recruiter and a social worker.
Bradley defected from the Democratic Party in 1999 while serving in the Florida House. Republicans feverishly worked to get him elected to the state Senate in 2000, but he was defeated by Sen. Les Miller, D-Tampa.
-- Information from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune was used in this report.