Florida Governor Rick Scott addresses the Forum Club of the Palm Beaches

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Florida Governor Rick Scott addressed the Forum Club of the Palm Beaches on Friday as a group of demonstrators protested his visit to South Florida during a luncheon at the Cohen Pavilion at the Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts

Inside, more than 700 people listened as the governor spoke about a wide range of issues, including the economy and education.

Little of what Scott told the crowd was new, but the conversation renewed debate over whether the state's prisons should be privatized, whether universities should face steep cuts and how to restore the Everglades.

Scott said Florida was on the right track but more work was ahead for his administration.

Scott, the state's forty-fifth governor, discussed his call for a $1 billion boost in education spending after signing into law a $1.3 billion education cut last year.

His speech came one day after the state Senate passed a $71.2 billion budget.

Some of his critics expressed anger over some of his recent decisions.

"I'm a retired teacher and what he's doing to public education makes me sick to my stomach," said one Palm Beach County resident.

"The stagnant partisanship has go to go, okay, and it's got to be for the benefit of the people," said another resident.

Scott told the Forum Club that he would seek a second term in office.

He also said he expected to announce a successor to outgoing Palm Beach County State Attorney Michael McAuliffe within the next three weeks.