TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Crist Introduces 'Stimulus Czar'

ADVERTISEMENT

The Associated Press

Published: March 24, 2009

TALLAHASSEE - Gov. Charlie Crist drew chuckles Monday when he introduced Don Winstead as Florida's "stimulus czar" - the key official charged with riding herd over $13.4 billion in federal stimulus money expected by the state.

"It's not funny," Crist protested in mock anger as he announced Winstead's appointment as a special adviser who will oversee the influx of federal funds to state programs during the next three budget years.

Winstead, 61, is on loan indefinitely to the governor's office from the state Department of Children and Families. He will be paid the $134,451 annual salary he has received as deputy secretary and second in command to Secretary George Sheldon. As stimulus czar, his tasks include making sure Florida gets all the federal money it's entitled to, and that the cash is spent properly and on time.
Winstead stressed Crist remains the ultimate decision-maker on stimulus issues.

"My working title is special adviser to the governor," Winstead said. "My hope is I will give special advice."

Those familiar with Winstead's three-decade career from caseworker to administrator in state and federal health and social service agencies called him the perfect choice for a difficult job. Winstead has worked in Democratic and Republican administrations, and has broad experience in management, budgeting and lobbying the Legislature for his agency.

"He has worked with the complexity of federal revenue sharing in the past, so I think he's a great choice," said Senate President Jeff Atwater, R-North Palm Beach.
Winstead is best known for serving as the state's welfare reform administrator from 1995 through 2001 under Govs. Lawton Chiles, a Democrat, and Jeb Bush, a Republican.

He was in charge of implementing dramatic changes that shrank Florida's welfare rolls by nearly two-thirds. The system now requires recipients to work in exchange for aid and provides jobs and job training for those who need it.

Not everyone, though, has been pleased since Crist announced Winstead's appointment March 3 in his State of the State Address.

"I don't know what the governor's stimulus czar is doing because he hasn't met with us," said Florida Senate Democratic Leader Al Lawson of Tallahassee. "There's not much communication going on."

Lawson also accused Crist's administration of dragging its feet on getting the stimulus money flowing to the state, and complained Florida lagged other states in establishing a Web site to track stimulus spending.

A Republican who bucked his party's leaders to embrace Democratic President Barack Obama's stimulus program, Crist was taken aback by the criticism.

"I think we're doing very well," Crist said. "I'm enormously proud of the work Don Winstead is doing, and I'll leave it at that."

Since his appointment, Winstead has testified before legislative committees, visited Washington to meet with Vice President Joe Biden and other federal officials, briefed Crist and state agency heads and helped develop the stimulus Web site, www.FlaRecovery .com, that's now up and running.

He also met with officials of the Florida League of Cities and Florida Association of Counties and asked them to designate representatives to be part of his team.

Most of the state's stimulus cash will be spent this budget year and the next two on health care for the poor through the Medicaid program, education and infrastructure, including road building.
Winstead said part of his job is to serve as "an opportunity watchdog."

Not all the stimulus money will flow automatically to state and local governments.
Winstead said he will be watching for pools of stimulus money for which applications are required or that can be sought by military bases or other federal activities in the state.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT