As expected, Gov. Rick Scott on Monday named Kim McDougal as his new chief of staff, effective April 2.
McDougal, 53, most recently served as Scott’s legislative affairs director and education policy coordinator. She has been in state government for nearly three decades and has spent much of that time in the Department of Education.
McDougal has very deep roots in Tallahassee, a rarity in an administration where many in Scott’s inner circle are under age 35 and from out of state. She began working for the state in 1989, was an advisor to former Republican Gov. Jeb Bush and served as an advisor to several state commissioners of education. She has a Ph.D. in education from Florida State University.
