Rehwinkel Backed for Interim Public Counsel

A joint legislative committee Thursday recommended Charles Rehwinkel to serve as interim state public counsel after the resignation of former Public Counsel Richard Gentry. Rehwinkel has served as deputy public counsel since 2011. The Office of Public Counsel represents consumers in utility issues at the Florida Public Service Commission. The Joint Committee on Public Counsel Oversight approved sending the Rehwinkel recommendation to Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples, and House Speaker Paul Renner, R-Palm Coast. Sen. Joe Gruters, a Sarasota Republican who is an alternating chairman of the joint committee, called Rehwinkel an “ideal candidate.” Gentry last month submitted his resignation, effective Jan. 6. The committee Thursday did not detail a process for finding a permanent replacement for Gentry.

Article reposted with permission from The News Service of Florida.