Crist weighs factors in Fla. Senate choice
TALLAHASSEE (AP) – Gov. Charlie Crist will likely choose a new senator to fill the remainder of Republican Mel Martinez’ term by the end of the week and the pick will depend on how much the governor is weighing loyalty, experience and potential political gain.
He has a list of nine candidates, the interviews are done and the speculation is beginning about who’s in and who’s out. The decision is particularly delicate because Crist is a candidate for the same seat in next year’s election, and his appointee would be expected to serve only until Jan. 2011.
If Crist wants loyalty and someone who thinks a lot like he does, former chief of staff George LeMieux is the obvious choice. If he wants someone who has Washington experience and needs less of a learning curve for a very short time on the job, there are former Reps. Clay Shaw, Mike Bilirakis and Lou Frey.
If Crist is thinking politically and wants a pick that can win points with constituents, then state Rep. Jennifer Carroll, a retired Naval officer, scores with several key groups – women, blacks and veterans.
There’s also former U.S. Attorney and current Board of Education member Roberto Martinez if he wanted to replace Martinez, the first Cuban-born senator, with another Cuban-born senator, and please a strong Republican voting block. Crist is facing primary opposition from Marco Rubio, a first generation Cuban-American who is winning support from some party conservatives.
Getting strong consideration is University of North Florida President John Delaney. Delaney was a popular, two-term Jacksonville mayor who was known for cutting property taxes each year in office and for putting in place the Better Jacksonville Plan, which used a voter approved half-cent sales tax for infrastructure improvement, environmental conservation, a new downtown library, a new baseball stadium, a new arena and other projects.
Delaney has also been praised in his current role as university president and is serving as interim chancellor of the Board of Governors, which oversees the state university system. He also served as northeast Florida’s No. 2 prosecutor. To add appeal for Crist, he’s well-respected in a key area of the state for Republicans.
“Delaney’s an intelligent and great thinker and he has a tremendous grasp on current event and issues. If anybody’s going to get up and running quickly in the U.S. Senate, it’s John Delaney,” said John Falconetti, a Jacksonville businessman who is active in Republican politics.
Crist is considered a moderate, and could seek to please the conservative base by choosing former House speaker and former state Sen. Dan Webster, a leader in the effort to keep Terri Schiavo alive and a favorite of social and religious conservatives.
Jim Smith, a former secretary of state and former attorney general, was one of the first people mentioned as a possible replacement, but Smith is also one of Tallahassee’s most powerful lobbyists and Crist might not want to be seen as appointing a lobbyist to the Senate position.
Of the nine, LeMieux is the closest to Crist. He served as deputy attorney general under Crist, ran Crist’s campaign for governor and was Crist’s first chief of staff as governor. Crist still relies on LeMieux for political and professional advice, and the two spent a lot of time together last weekend during the Republican Party of Florida quarterly meeting.
“He has my complete confidence. He is a man who has tremendous intellect and that I think the world of,” Crist said after interviewing LeMieux last week.
LeMieux was asked if there were any differences he had with the governor. He replied that he is a Miami Dolphins fan, and Crist is a Tampa Bay Buccaneers fan. That was it.