As Senator Scott assumed office and Governor Ron DeSantis took over for Scott, it was rumored that both lawmakers did not get along.
In fact, the idea was that both had been contentious for quite a while and that the tension had only grown in recent weeks, but Senator Rick Scott’s Chief of Staff, Jackie Schutz Zeckman, is shooting down that idea by explaining that both “have a great relationship.”
In a conversation with Zeckman, she informed the Floridian that both DeSantis and Scott “speak regularly.”
She added that, when they talk, the conversation always concerns how “they can work together to do things for the state," adding that "they're entirely committed to working together in order to ensure that the sunshine state continues on a path to success."
Zeckman asserted that Scott knows “the Governor’s here to help him in any way that he can.”
Leading up to Governor DeSantis’ inauguration, he made it clear that he wanted to work off of the success that Governor Rick Scott was leaving behind, which includes a low unemployment rate at 3.3%. Governor DeSantis wants to expand on everything that has already been accomplished, but news of bad blood brewing between the lawmakers spread like wildfire in the days leading up to the Governor being sworn in.
Last minute appointments by then Governor Scott were seen as being done to make things difficult for the incoming Governor, but Senator Scott's Chief of Staff assures that this is just a ploy to create an atmosphere of disarray where there is none.
At a time when the Government shutdown has pitted Republicans and Democrats over providing funding for President Trump's wall, Governor DeSantis and Rick Scott don't seem to be phased by the reports of growing tension between them.
Zeckman implies that this is all smoke to detract from more important issues that need to be focused on.