Wingnut welfare, Sunshine State style

In all the hubbub yesterday, I unfortunately managed to miss this lovely bit of tid, courtesy of FLA Politics: two weeks ago, Gov. Charlie Crist appointed a physician's assistant and wife of the governor's general counsel as chairman of Florida's Public Employees Relations Commission, and the fecal matter is beginning to strike the ventilation unit:

Gonzalez, the wife of Crist's recently hired general counsel, Jason Gonzalez [(right)], was working as a physician's assistant at a dermatology office in Tallahassee. Her appointment as the new chairman of the Public Employees Relations Commission breaks with a 33-year-old tradition of having an attorney in charge of the office.

[...]

In January, Crist hired Jason Gonzalez, a lawyer with the Tallahassee firm of Ausley & McMullen and general counsel for the Republican Party of Florida, as his general counsel at a salary of $130,000 a year. On March 7, he appointed Sara Gonzalez to succeed Donna Maggert Poole, the wife of former Republican Party of Florida Chairman Van Poole, as commission chairman.

Sara Gonzalez said Tuesday that her "job application" and her husband's job with Crist are "two totally separate matters." She said there is nothing in state law that requires the chairman to have a law degree and pointed out that her husband does not directly supervise any state employees who are allowed to take job disputes to the commission.

"I was appointed to this position because the governor values my private independent management experience," said Gonzalez, who said she oversaw eight employees at Dermatology Advanced Care.

Only in Florida does "private independent management experience" mean "office manager for a doctor's office." Surely she has other qualifications, then?

One of the unsuccessful applicants was a Jacksonville labor lawyer who graduated cum laude from Florida State University's law school in 2001. Another has 20 years' experience working with unions.

[Sara] Gonzalez has an undergraduate degree in biology and a master's in physician-assistant studies.

[...]

"She's honest, she's smart, she's got an advanced degree, new blood," Crist said. "I like having new blood in the administration."

Oh. Never mind.

There's really no justifiable rationale for appointing Ms. Gonzalez to this post. There is a little hope: that the Florida Senate will refuse to confirm her appointment, or that the fallout will force Gov. Crist to withdraw the nomination. But in a state that's already a laughingstock, this just adds fuel to the fire.

UPDATE (4:13 pm 3/21/08): Sara Gonzalez resigned today.