TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - A former Florida House speaker who stood up to Gov. Rick Scott is being pushed off the Florida State University board.
Scott on Friday replaced Allan Bense on the FSU board of trustees with Max Alvarez, a Doral businessman and friend of U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio. He also reappointed two trustees including one helping with Donald Trump's presidential campaign.
Bense said Saturday he had asked for a new term on the FSU board but was turned down. His only comment: "I respect the decision." Bense's removal was first reported by the Tampa Bay Times.
In 2013, Bense voted in favor of a tuition hike opposed by Scott. FSU officials contended the tuition hike was mandated by state law but Scott's staff tried to pressure schools to vote it down.
