Dive Brief:
- The presidential search committee at Florida State University has decided to consider candidates in addition to the controversial state senator who had been the sole candidate.
- After Florida Sen. John Thrasher was scheduled for a June 11 interview, two other state officials filed applications: Florida Rep. Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda and Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Ricky Polston.
- Because of the new applications, Ed Burr, chairman of the search committee, said he was persuaded that it would be best to consider all three candidates through a “traditional” search process before conducting interviews.
Dive Insight:
Thrasher is an influential Republican with strong ties to the university, so the perception that he was a shoo-in for the presidency had apparently scared off other applicants. Now, with competing applications, the Thrasher interview will be postponed and the committee will consider a final list of candidates at a public meeting. Faculty and students had criticized Thrasher’s candidacy, and a protest was scheduled for Thursday, the Tallahassee Democrat reported.