TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) _ Florida finally has a new insurance commissioner, but it took three tries before top Republicans could reach an agreement.
Gov. Rick Scott and the three members of the Florida Cabinet voted Friday to have Deputy Commissioner David Altmaier succeed Kevin McCarty.
Altmaier, who is 34 years old, will be paid $165,000 a year.
Scott and the Cabinet agreed on Altmaier after Scott refused to support two other names initially suggested by Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater.
Both Atwater and Scott had to agree on a choice.
McCarty, who has been commissioner for 13 years, will help Altmaier for the next 60 days as he starts his new post.
The governor and Cabinet held an emergency meeting to select a new commissioner after failing to reach an agreement earlier this week.
