No one on the elusive board of Associated Industries of Florida is talking, but word on the street from Tampa to Tallahassee is that Barney Bishop has been asked to resign his position as president and CEO of Associated Industries of Florida.
Bishop, who was paid $403,137 by AIF in 2009 according to the organization's tax documents, has not returned mutliple calls for comment.
He butted heads with the AIF board at the end of the 2011 legislative session after a news conference in which he called for replacement of the entire board of state-run Citizens Property Insurance. Questioned about the statement, Bishop said: "If they're not doing the right things, which is trying to make Citizens smaller and trying to get the rates where they need to be, then those people need to be replaced because they're exacerbating the problem that we have right now."
The next day, the AIF board issued this statement: "AIF does not allege that any Citizens board members have acted inappropriately or in violation of their responsibilities to Citizens or the people of Florida and will not be pursuing future action in that vein. Any misstatements or suggestions to the contrary were inadvertent and not intended to improperly accuse or impugn the board members and staff of Citizens who work diligently and serve graciously in tackling the challenges that Florida’s current insurance environment presents them."
Update: AIF chair Erika Alba released this statement after The Buzz posted the above item on Bishop: "The Associated Industries of Florida (AIF) board of directors did meet today; however, it is a long-standing policy of our association to not discuss board matters. Contrary to some reports, Barney Bishop remains President and CEO of AIF."
Yes, but for how long?
Fat Barney was never good enough to hold Jon Shebel's jockstrap, much less follow in his footsteps. Other than the political/financal weight of his organization's members he never accrued any real credibility or personal clout in Tally. Few if any will miss him in the Capital Complex, Adams Street restaurants or at the AIF mansion down the street from the governor's mansion. Good riddance!
Posted by: Can't Take It Anymore | June 24, 2011 at 06:05 PM
Shebel was an overpaid blowhard who thought more of himself than anyone around him the last ten years. The place was a joke when barnie took over. Big mistake if they fire him. Now all that's left is mr egomaniac over at the chamber.
Posted by: Kidding right | June 24, 2011 at 06:43 PM
No one on the elusive board of Associated Industries of Florida is talking, but word on the street from Tampa to Tallahassee is that Barney Bishop has been asked to resign his position as president and CEO of Associated Industries...
Posted by: order methotrexate | June 25, 2011 at 12:55 AM
Both AIF and the Chamber are a joke. The trial lawyers outspend, outwork, outsmart and outhustle these guys every year. This huge majority of Republicans in the Legislature and all they can get passed is ONE TORT BILL for a company that isnt even in Florida. So pitiful.
Posted by: Ettubrute | June 25, 2011 at 11:40 AM
No one on the elusive board of Associated Industries of Florida is talking, but word on the street from Tampa to Tallahassee is that Barney Bishop has been asked to resign his position as president and CEO of Associated Industries...
Posted by: order lisinopril | June 25, 2011 at 05:02 PM