Posted by Wayne Garcia on Aug. 7, 2009, at 11:32 am
UPDATE at 1 pm: Martinez will hold a 3pm newser and then Crist is expected to name former Secretary of State Jim Smith as the an interim replacement before the summer recess ends. Leading candidates so far include former Secretary of State Jim Smith, former Tampa Mayor and FLA Gov. Bob Martinez, former US Sen. Connie Mack and former Speaker Allen Bense.
After months and months of flat-out denying he would quit his Senate post before his term was up (ever since he announced he wouldn’t seek re-election in 2010), Mel Martinez today made a liar out of himself and announced he will step down now.
That leaves the appointment in Gov. Charlie Crist’s hands. Now, before everyone in the Democratic Party grassroots starts freaking out (too late, judging by my Facebook and Twitter account traffic), yes, Charlie can appoint himself but, no, he won’t. It would be political suicide to do that.
In 2005, CL’s then- Sarasota reporter Allyson Gonzalez gave Martinez a freshman report card. He didn’t do too well:
Posted by Wayne Garcia on Jul. 29, 2009, at 7:14 am
Brian Blair: the political action figure, fighting for the rights of parents everywhere
You knew this was coming: Brian Blair has started his comeback bid after being cleared of child-abuse charges in a fight with his sons, even as he also fights elections law charges in connection with checks he accepted during his failed 2008 campaign.
Blair, in an exclusive sit-down with News Channel 8 set to air tonight at 11, said:
Posted by Wayne Garcia on Jul. 20, 2009, at 1:00 pm
Jeff Kottkamp took his whacks for misusing the state airplane earlier this year, so it will be interesting to see how (if??) the public reacts to his announcement that he wants to be the GOP nominee for attorney general in 2010.
Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp filed paperwork today to run for attorney general in 2010, even as an ethics complaint over his use of state planes remains unresolved.
Kottkamp, a trial attorney who has served as Florida’s second-in-command since January 2007, told reporters that the attorney general job is the “culmination of a lot of the experiences I’ve had in my life, it’s something that I feel passionate about.”
he Florida Supreme Court has just approved the latest financial impact statement from Hometown Democracy petitioners, after rejecting their previous two submissions.
The high court has already approved the HD ballot question for the 2010 statewide ballot; the proposal would require voters to approve local land use plans. But without a valid financial impact statement, the question would have appeared with a notation indicating that no such information was available, according to the Secretary of State’s office.
The court rejected HD’s prior two impact statements on grounds that they were misleading and/or vague. The new one, according to a court opinion released today, is “clear, unambiguous, consists of no more than seventy-five words, and is limited to address the estimated increase or decrease in any revenues or costs to the state or local governments,” and therefore passes legal muster.
Posted by Chris Ingram on Jul. 9, 2009, at 10:00 am
Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Georgia
By Chris Ingram PoHo contributor
An Open Letter to Sen. Saxby Chambliss:
Dear Senator:
We have known each other for many years, and I have always admired your conservative values and principles.
However, due to your recent endorsement of Charlie Crist in the open Florida U.S. Senate seat, which is a contested race among more than one Republican (including Marco Rubio), I now doubt your sincerity for honest and fair elections, not to mention good leadership and responsible government.
While perhaps you may have been too preoccupied finding ways to get yourself re-elected and weren’t paying attention when Charlie Crist fully embraced President Obama’s reckless and fiscally unsound “stimulus” plan, Floridians were watching. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted by Wayne Garcia on Jun. 30, 2009, at 12:39 pm
His candidacy has been called “quixotic” as he flies into the face of a Republican challenger who likely will be Charlie Crist, but Kendrick Meek is strongly confident in his ability to force Floridians to examine the real record of their favorite, white-haired governor.
Meek is a rising star in the Democratic Party, finding himself with a seat on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee after just four terms in office. Helps to have a progressive voting record and agenda. It probably also doesn’t hurt when your mom served on the House Appropriations Committee with (now Speaker) Nancy Pelosi, as Congresswoman Carrie Meek did.
He’s largely untested (he won his seat in Congress unopposed after his mother retired so close to the qualifying deadline that nobody could mount a real challenge to her son) but he’s shown great energy and won a good deal of the hearts and minds in the Florida Democratic Party, so much so that a few major challengers have stepped aside rather than force an expensive primary race with him.
Meek was in Tampa today and stopped by the Creative Loafing offices. We talked about how to pay for health care reform, whether the stimulus is working, his role in forcing smaller class sizes in public schools and his famous 2000 showdown with then-Gov. Jeb Bush over the dismantling of affirmative action in the state, which resulted in a 26-hour sit-in at the lobby of the Governor’s Office after Bush refused to meet with him and another lawmaker.
Posted by Wayne Garcia on Jun. 19, 2009, at 4:20 pm
A curious piece of political literature has been hitting South Tampa homes over the past few days as a handful of County Commissioner Ken Hagan’s supporters do what is called a “lit drop” of campaign literature.
Only it is not really campaign literature, or at least, it doesn’t carry the necessary campaign disclosures that a campaign advertisement would carry. Nor is it a county government piece, as it points out that it was “Not produced at taxpayer’s expense.”
That left some Democrats e-mailing me furiously about how this was akin to the stealth campaign that Buddy Johnson ran with federal dollars in 2008, the one being probed by the Feds and the St. Pete TImes’ Jeff Testerman. And it caught the attention of at least one Democrat who has been thinking about running against the Republican Hagan in 2010.
Posted by Dan Sullivan on Jun. 15, 2009, at 7:11 am
Bob Smith, right (and we mean far right) back in Congress, back in the day.
By Dan Sullivan PoHo contributor
Just when you thought the race to replace outgoing Sen. Mel Martinez couldn’t get any more complicated, a man named Bob Smith threw another wrench into the system last week.
State Sen. Dan Gelber of Miami Beach made it official Monday, announcing he will run for attorney general and bringing the party one step closer to a three-way Democratic primary.
State Sen. Dave Aronberg of Greenacres announced for the office last week, and former state Sen. Rod Smith of Alachua is expected to announce soon.
Posted by Wayne Garcia on Jun. 3, 2009, at 7:52 am
While I appreciate the Gator sentiment in this House floor appearance by Jacksonville Congresswoman Corrine Brown, word that she is mulling a U.S. Senate bid makes me think that perhaps we might want a Senator who could actually read a simple congratulatory message.
There’s no easy way to tell you this, so I think I’ll just go ahead and say it: I think we should see other people. Don’t get me wrong, you’re a great guy and all, but I’m just not so sure I can handle a serious relationship with you for governor. It’s not you, it’s me. Well, actually, it’s just you.
Posted by Wayne Garcia on Jun. 2, 2009, at 10:56 am
Bill McCollum, currently the most dangerous weasel in Florida politics, yesterday announced the endorsements of 60 state legislators. (This is, of course, a meaningless gesture. I remember having the endorsements of just about every member of the House during my work managing the 2004 Johnnie Byrd for US Senate campaign and look where that got him. A fourth-place primary finish.)
The nine West Central Florida Republicans lining up to stroke their presumptive nominee (perhaps not presumptive? Recall our earlier story about possible challenger Paula Dockery) are Sens. Victor Crist, Mike Fasano and Nancy Detert; and Reps. Ed Homan, Ed Hooper, Faye Culp, John Legg, Peter Nehr and Will Weatherford.
Posted by Wayne Garcia on May. 20, 2009, at 12:26 pm
Here’s the latest tweak of our enormously popular governor, from his friends across the aisle in the Florida Democratic Party. It’s the first online ad with the “Cut and Run Crist” theme that the party has been drum-beating since Crist announced his Senatorial bid last week.
Posted by Wayne Garcia on May. 20, 2009, at 11:00 am
2008 GOP presidential nominee John McCain, who spurned Charlie Crist in his vice presidential selection process, has endorsed the Florida governor in Crist’s bid for the U.S. Senate in 2010. The Florida Capital Bureau reports:
Posted by Wayne Garcia on May. 18, 2009, at 9:01 am
Florida’s right-wing attorney general, Bill McCollum, is set to confirm his gubernatorial bid this morning, a genuinely scary thought since he could be a fluke election away from being our next governor.
Here’s my column from the upcoming print Creative Loafing issue about how McCollum should be freaking you out by now:
Posted by Wayne Garcia on May. 13, 2009, at 12:39 pm
Having another guv from the Tampa Bay area (Alex Sink and her hubby, former gov candidate Bill McBride, still have a large lakefront home out in Thonotosassa in eastern Hillsborough) wouldn’t be a bad thing. Last one was Bob Martinez in the 1980s. And today, Sink, a former banker turned Florida’s chief financial officer, made it official that she will seek (and get) the Democratic nomination for governor in 2010 as Charlie Crist flees the mansion.
Posted by Wayne Garcia on May. 12, 2009, at 11:10 am
From the nascent Draft Jeb! movement. We can only hope the movement is limited to the folks in this photo, but knowing the state’s electorate the way I do, I doubt it.
Posted by Wayne Garcia on May. 11, 2009, at 11:09 am
Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio, who a few months ago expressed interest in Mel Martinez’s seat in the Senate, said today she will not run for statewide or national office in 2010.
“My four-year term as mayor does not end until March 2011 and I believe that running both the city of Tampa and a statewide campaign at the same time over the next eighteen months would shortchange the citizens of Tampa,” she said in a statement e-mailed to supporters and the news media.
Posted by Jim Johnson on May. 11, 2009, at 6:22 am
Many people expect an announcement that Florida Gov. Charlie Crist will say he’s running for the U.S. Senate on Tuesday, when the governor is set to announce his political future. To be sure, an open Senate seat does not come along very often … but this could be a major problem for Republicans.
Posted by Wayne Garcia on May. 7, 2009, at 6:58 am
Our governor is not having a good 2009. Maybe it all started when he (rightly) stood with President Barack Obama to tout the economic stimulus plan. Whatever the start of the slide, one thing is increasingly clear: Charlie Crist’s political capital in Tallahassee is near zero.
His clean energy bill — a priority — was killed by the speaker-designate in the House as retribution for not getting messy offshore oil drilling. Crist’s proposed budget was ignored on arrival. He faces a tough primary battle against conservative forces led by Marco Rubio should he decide to seek the U.S. Senate nomination in 2010 that, just a few months ago, was viewed as more of a coronation than an election.
The latest slip in Crist’s power? The Legislature has approved changes that give the governor less latitude when outsourcing public work to private industry. Former Miami Herald scribe Gary Fineout blogs:
Posted by Wayne Garcia on May. 5, 2009, at 6:15 am
It’s on like Donkey Kong: a battle for the heart and soul of the Florida Republican Party!
Conservative standard-bearer Marco Rubio has thrown his hat into the post-Mel Martinez 2010 U.S. Senate elections, setting up a likely battle royal with Gov. Charlie Crist that will be one of the national Republican Party’s highest profile battle between its conservative faction (Rubio, Jeb Bush) and its centrist, big-tent faction (Crist, Arnold Schwarzenegger, as examples).
Rubio made the announcement on the Spanish language Univision and followed up with a video on YouTube this morning.
Rubio says he wants a balanced budget amendment and pro-business laws. He also obliquely acknowledges the 800-pound GOP elephant in the room that is Crist: “I know that there are people more famous than I who will enter this race. But nothing in life worth doing is easy.”
Posted by Wayne Garcia on May. 4, 2009, at 6:20 am
Adam C. Smith, political editor over at the St. Petersburg Times and chief Buzz-ster, asks an intriguing question in light of the party switch of Penn. Sen. Arlen Specter:
Can the stimulus-lovin’ Charlie Crist possibly find a home in the increasingly right-wing GOP?
It’s a crazy question, considering the GOP these days is only marginally more popular than the flu, while the Republican governor of America’s biggest battleground state enjoys astronomical approval ratings.
But it’s worth pondering now that moderate Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania has become a Democrat, and the political world is convinced that the moderate Florida governor is about to run for the U.S. Senate. If Crist runs and wins, he will join Maine’s Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe – a pair reviled by many conservatives – as the only Republican senators who supported President Barack Obama’s stimulus package.
“If you agree with Susan Collins or Olympia Snowe on some of these issues, you might as well become a Democrat,” said former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio, a Republican who is likely to run for the Senate, whether or not Crist does.
Posted by Wayne Garcia on Apr. 30, 2009, at 5:00 am
Why wait, I always say. Actually, given Charlie’s continuing tremendous popularity ratings, starting to whittle him down to size is a good tactic for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, which released the ad today.
Posted by Wayne Garcia on Apr. 20, 2009, at 12:13 pm
This week I was joined by ABC Action News anchor Brendan McLaughlin and Democratic consultant Ana Cruz. We discussed, according to my pre-production notes and links:
Is Obama a wimp? The NYT questions Obama’s determination for a good fight and details how he has compromised and capitulated. And is Obama too enamored with being on TV and being a star and not enough on producing the change he promised? What about this handshake with Hugo Chavez? http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/19/us/politics/19lobby.html?partner=rss&emc=rss
Posted by Wayne Garcia on Apr. 16, 2009, at 2:10 pm
Sen. Charlie Justice has gotten out ahead of the Democratic field of those who want Bill Young’s three-decade seat in Congress by announcing today that he is in the race.
Young has not signaled his intentions, but his retirement has been rumored for at least a decade. Yesterday, Politico mentioned him again as a leading retirement prospect because he raised virtually no campaign money in the first quarter.
In a written statement, Justice said, “The impact of the faltering economy can be seen all across our community in the form of short sales, foreclosure signs and shuttered businesses. Florida families are pulling together at the dinner table and in churches and synagogues because they are determined to succeed. We need more leaders in Congress who share that determination.”
Posted by Wayne Garcia on Apr. 13, 2009, at 12:09 pm
I’ll put the disclosure right up front: I worked with Rich Reidy in my political consulting firm before returning to journalism in 2004. Today, Reidy (who is an aide to Hillsborough Commissioner Ken Hagan) announced he will run for the Florida House in District 47, a seat that could see him match up against former HIllsborough Commissioner Brian Blair.
If you recall, Reidy was surprised late last year when Blair let slip that he would seek the seat, since Reidy thought he had Blair’s blessing (if not, at least, tacit understanding). Republican Tom Aderhold has also submitted preliminary campaign papers to start campaigning for this seat as well. Blair has discussed the race and is believed to have interviewed a campaign consultant but has not publicly announced or filed his campaign paperwork yet.
The full text of Reidy’s announcement after the jump.
Posted by Wayne Garcia on Apr. 2, 2009, at 5:58 pm
It might as well be official that Gov. Charlie Crist is in the 2010 US Senate race to replace outgoing Mel Martinez. A prime contender who ran strong in some polls just on name recognition alone, Congressman Connie Mack today revealed he will not run.
As you contemplate this decision, I want to let you know that I have decided not seek election to the U.S. Senate in 2010, and that I will instead seek re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives.
I also want you to know that, as you contemplate your own political future, I will be your strongest supporter and champion — regardless of whether you seek re-election or election to the Senate.
The people of Florida are lucky to have you as a public servant, and I’m fortunate to have you as my friend. No matter the decision you make, we will all be fortunate to have you standing up for Florida in the years to come.
Posted by Wayne Garcia on Mar. 9, 2009, at 1:30 pm
South Florida legislator Dan Gelber was in Tampa this weekend for one of his campaign workdays as he travels the state to raise his name recognition. He was a very progressive and aggressive Democratic leader in the Florida House, helping engineer the gains the party made in the 2006 elections.
P.E.T. stands for personal energy transportation. PET, located in Tampa (1109 E. Osborne Ave), is a workshop where volunteers build all-terrain wheelchairs for people in need in developing nations. Many of the recipients are children or victims of land mine explosions. The recipients live across the globe and are people who couldn’t afford the cost of a wheelchair because of extreme poverty. Because traditional wheel chairs are too expensive and don’t work so well in regions without paved roads and transportation infrastructure, PET creates wheelchairs that are low cost and designed for off-terrain use, replete with space for water or goods, and long and durable life expectancy.
PET was created by missionaries who saw the great despair of children and adults imprisoned by their disability first hand. So they designed these devices and created workshops around the country to assemble them. The Tampa PET is organized by Jeff whose passion, commitment and faith are the foundation of the Tampa effort. He has been on missions all over the world and has helped other countries like Sierra Leone in Africa create their own PET workshops.
The last two months have been rather gloomy times for term-limited St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker. First, it was the news that Alex Sink would not run for the U.S Senate, thereby keeping the CFO position to herself. Then it was Bill McCollum passing on a senate bid to stay on as Attorney General. All the while, every city council member since Connie Kone served popped-in to City Hall to measure the drapes in your office.
For Hizzoner, it’s like what any bartender will tell you at closing time, ‘You don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here.’ Fortunately for Baker, Charlie Crist may be ready to throw him an after-party. Read the rest of this entry »
UPDATE: I have a correction to post here. Turns out I am the late one to find out what everyone else knew already: It will be elected not appointed. The correction is posted here.
Posted by Wayne Garcia on Feb. 6, 2009, at 12:03 pm
The story just breaking today is hung on a pretty thin thread: the fact that St. Pete Mayor Rick Baker told reporter Cristina Silva that “I’m not taking anything off the table.”
What politician doesn’t say that?
The Times‘ blog post starts out:
Mayor Rick Baker said he hasn’t ruled out a potential Senate run.
“I’m not taking anything off the table,” he said when asked whether he would go after the seat being vacated by Republican Mel Martinez.
Baker said that while other Republican politicians are waiting to see whether Gov. Charlie Crist gets in the race, he has other considerations to weigh. “I’m primarily focused on doing my job,” he said. “I don’t want to get distracted.”
UPDATE: By afternoon, the Times was retracting its take on Baker’s plans and Baker was emphatic that he is not considering a run:
The bottom line is he doesn’t have any plans at this point and, unlike Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio, is not actively mulling a statewide campaign. He’s not calling money raisers, political pros or anything else.
“I’m not seriously considering it. I’m not ruling it out, but I’m not reviewing it or any of that. From what I’ve read in the paper, mine is a different category from Pam. It sounds like she’s actively reviewing it,” said Baker, who also once again dismissed the possibility of running for Congress if C.W. Bill Young retires because it would require too much time away from his kids, ages 12 and 13. (Presumably a senate seat would too.)
Asked about a gubernatorial run should Charlie Crist jump to the senate, Baker implied that would be more appealing to him, noting that he tends to prefer administrative jobs.
