November 5, 2010. “His former colleagues say he was particularly successful in two areas: negotiating deals, and imposing more financial discipline (“accountability” is one of his favorite words).”

By DAMIEN CAVE

MIAMI — Many of the newly elected Republican governors have said they want to run their state like a business. But few have been as brash and bold in corporate life — or with their economic campaign proposals — as Rick Scott, Florida’s new chief executive.

Mr. Scott spent a decade buying up hospitals to create the country’s largest health care chain, Columbia/HCA. And while his Democratic opponent tried to convince voters that he was an untrustworthy “corporate raider,” even former colleagues describe Mr. Scott as a no-nonsense leader, fixated on costs, and willing to cut programs and employees if they fall short of his goals.

“ ‘Chummy’ is not the word I would ever use to describe Rick Scott,” said Joshua Nemzoff, a mergers and acquisitions expert who has known Mr. Scott for 21 years. “He’s extremely focused, and very, very aggressive.”

For many Floridians, that may be a welcome change. For most of its history, the Sunshine State has coasted along on tourism, real estate and population growth. But with the Great Recession driving unemployment to record levels, Florida has become desperate for something different.

One in three voters on Tuesday said that a relative or member of their household had lost a job in the past two years, according to exit polls, which also showed that 73 percent believe the economy is in a serious, long-term decline, not just a cyclical downturn.

Enter Rick Scott, presenting himself as a turnaround expert. “I won’t rest until we make Florida a model for the country in job creation and education,” he told supporters Wednesday in his victory speech.

Read more at nytimes.com.