Rufus’ “clout” with Scott not translating into money for FAMU

Rufus Montgomery continues to brag nonstop about having Gov. Rick Scott’s ear. But his so-called “clout” has not helped FAMU gain anything from the Florida Governor’s Office.

Scott appointed Rufus to the FAMU Board of Trustees on March 23, 2011. Less than two months later, the governor line item vetoed all the funds that lawmakers appropriated for FAMU’s Public Education Capital Outlay (PECO) projects. Scott took away $2,014,769 for electrical and technology upgrades on FAMU’s campus and another $500,000 for FAMU’s Public Health Entomology Research and Education Lab in Panama City.

At the same time, Scott gave a thumbs-up for $35M in PECO dollars for a new construction on the campus of the University of South Florida Polytechnic.

If Rufus is really a big-time powerbroker with Scott, why couldn’t he save a mere $2.5M in PECO money from the governor’s veto pen? Why didn’t Scott show him the same respect that he showed his top political supporters in Lakeland?


Rufus is proving to be equally ineffective in the struggle to find enough money to complete Phase II of the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences building. Scott’s 2012-2013 budget does not include any of the money FAMU needs to finish this project, which is essential for the program’s accreditation. FAMU needs $6,049,000 to finish up Pharmacy Phase II. The university has received $25,000,000 toward the total $31,049,000 required for the project.

Scott clearly has a one-sided relationship with Rufus. Rufus just does what he is told with no questions asked. FAMU has gotten absolutely nothing out of this deal.

The governor has shown that protecting FAMU’s flagship health sciences school is not one of his priorities. His priority is attempting to call the shots concerning who will serve as FAMU’s president with Rufus’ help.

Rufus has been the go-to trustee in Scott’s efforts to get rid of President James H. Ammons. Even though Rufus failed to deliver on the task of suspending Ammons, Rattler Nation has learned that the fight to help Scott take control of FAMU’s presidency is just beginning. Steps are already being taken to make sure that the results of Ammons’ performance evaluation will please Scott.

For a trustee who boasts about being the FAMUan with the best relationship with the governor, Rufus is obviously useless in bringing the money home.