TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum has written a letter to his probable opponent in next year's gubernatorial race concerning oversight of the Florida Retirement System.

The possibility of expanding the three-person State Board of Administration has been kicked around. McCollum told Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, who is running for governor as a Democrat.

McCollum is seeking the Republican nomination. Polls show a McCollum-Sink general election is likely.

McCollum wrote that it will take action by the Legislature to expand the SBA. The governor, attorney general and chief financial officer make up the SBA, and Sink wants to add members to provide additional oversight for the pension fund.

"(A)ny changes to the composition of the SBA... must come through constitutional amendment," McCollum wrote.

McCollum sent his legislative proposals to state Senate President Jeff Atwater and House Speaker Larry Cretul. State Rep. Robert Schenk has agreed to put the proposals in legislation he plans to introduce next year.

"I firmly believe these changes will provide the additional oversight the Trustees are seeking in an effort to protect the financial future of all Florida Pension Fund participants," McCollum wrote.

"I look forward to discussing this matter with you and with Gov. (Charlie) Crist at our next Board of Trustees meeting."

An August poll from Quinnipiac University has McCollum with a 4-percent lead over Sink. Crist is running for U.S. Senate.

From Legal Newsline: Reach John O'Brien by e-mail at jobrienwv@gmail.com.