| Revision as of 19:38, 26 June 2007 edit209.26.38.244 (talk) Added new section: "Controversies while Governor."← Previous edit | Revision as of 00:44, 27 June 2007 edit undoNapnet (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users737 edits Undid revision 140798798 by 209.26.38.244 (talk) - this really isn't a controversy...Next edit → | ||
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| ==Governor== | ==Governor== | ||
| On ],] Crist took over the Governorship. | On ],] Crist took over the Governorship. | ||
| ==Controversies while Governor== | |||
| On May 24, 2007, Governor Crist signed "Senate Bill 1372: Relating to Agriculure & Consumer Services." The new law included a provision that protected the interests of fireworks merchants in the state by prohibiting Florida cities and counties from enacting any new local laws affecting the sale or use of fireworks until a task force study could be completed of the state's fireworks laws in 2008.<ref> | |||
| {{cite web | |||
| | url = http://flsenate.gov/session/index.cfm?BI_Mode=ViewBillInfo&Mode=Bills&SubMenu=1&Year=2007&billnum=1372 | |||
| | title = Senate 1372: Relating to Agriculture & Consumer Services | |||
| | format = | |||
| | accessdate = June 26, 2007 | |||
| }}Text and history of the bill at flsenate.gov: "05/24/07 Approved by Governor;"</ref><ref> | |||
| {{cite web | |||
| | url = http://www.sun-herald.com/NewsfeatureLink.cfm?link=/newfeatures/legislature/fireworks24.cfm | |||
| | title = House OKs plan to prohibit banning fireworks | |||
| | format = | |||
| | accessdate = June 26 2007 | |||
| }}www.sun-herald.com / Associated Press: "The House passed a wide-ranging agriculture bill that includes a prohibition on new local laws banning fireworks, despite the objections of some lawmakers who said it infringes on the authority of local governments."</ref> The governor signed the bill over the objection of the Florida Fire Chiefs' Association, which had wanted to retain the option of local goverments being able to temporarily ban the sale and use of fireworks during emergencies.<ref> | |||
| {{cite web | |||
| | url = http://www.ffca.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=4 | |||
| | title = Florida Fire Chiefs' Association position statement | |||
| | format = | |||
| | accessdate = June 26, 2007 | |||
| }}Talking Points: "The Florida Fire Chiefs are not opposing the bill, or the concept of a task force to study issues surrounding sale and use of fireworks. The most recent amendment adopted by the House Environmental and Natural Resources Council and the Senate General Government Appropriations committee is what the association opposes. ... We are entering into a high wildfire danger season, it is concerning that the legislature has decided by adopting this amendment to strip all local governments of their authority to enact any ordinances, rules, or regulations to protect their citizens for the next year or until the task force comes back with a report to the legislature and the legislature takes action on the report."</ref> Said one Fire Chief in whose drought-stricken Florida county a temporary ban was effectively nullified: "We lost the power to do this. We were overruled by the state. The fireworks lobby is more powerful than local governments."<ref> | |||
| {{cite book | |||
| | author = | |||
| | coauthors = | |||
| | year = June 23, 2007 | |||
| | title = Charlotte lifting fireworks ban | |||
| | publisher = Charlotte Herald-Tribune | |||
| | location = Port Charlotte, Florida | |||
| | id = | |||
| }}Section B "Charlotte" pages 1B, 8B: CHARLOTTE COUNTY - Trumped by a state law, Charlotte County is preparing to lift a ban on the sale of fireworks despite persistent drought conditions. "We lost the power to do this," said Charlotte County Fire Chief Dennis Dido. "We were overruled by the state." Charlotte officials enacted the temporary ban last month as wildfires raged across the state. ... Drought conditions have not improved in Southwest Florida despite recent rains, but an attachment on an agriculture bill signed by Gov. Charlie Crist prevents communities from banning the sale of fireworks until the work of a statewide talk force on fireworks is completed in 2008. ... "The fireworks lobby is more powerful than local governments," Dido said.</ref> | |||
| ==Personal life== | ==Personal life== | ||
Revision as of 00:44, 27 June 2007
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| Charles Crist, Jr. | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 44 Governor of Florida | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 2 2007 | |
| Lieutenant | Jeff Kottkamp |
| Preceded by | Jeb Bush |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1956-07-24) July 24, 1956 (age 68) Altoona, Pennsylvania |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Amanda Morrow (1979-1980; div.) |
| Profession | Lawyer |
Charles Joseph Crist, Jr. or Charlie Crist (born July 24 1956), is an American politician of the Republican Party, and the current Governor of Florida. Crist served as state attorney general from 2003 to 2007.
Career
Crist entered state politics representing parts of St. Petersburg in the Florida Senate, where he became best known for his support of chain gangs for state prison inmates, earning him the nickname "Chain Gang Charlie." He became well-known in state politics in 1998, when after nearly six years in the Senate he challenged popular incumbent Democrat Bob Graham for his U.S. Senate seat but lost by 26 percent. In 1999, Governor Jeb Bush appointed Crist to the position of Deputy Secretary of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. He then ran for and was elected to the office of Education Commissioner of Florida in the November 2000 election, in which capacity he served from 2001 until 2003. During this time he said teachers should earn at least $100,000 annually. When the office was eliminated in accordance with a 1998 constitutional amendment, all responsibilities turned over to the appointed Secretary of Education. Crist had by that time already won the attorney general's position.
During his time in office, Crist has been applauded by civil rights and consumer groups for expanding the powers of the Attorney General during his time in office to prosecute civil rights and fraud cases. He has also received acclaim for his work to combat spam e-mails, freeze utility rates, end telecom deception, and protect the environment. Some activists who had pushed for government intervention in the Terri Schiavo case strongly criticized Crist when he did not attempt further legal action to keep Schiavo alive, or use his powers to investigate her missing Department of Children and Families file. America's Most Wanted host John Walsh has supported Crist's candidacy, publicly filing Crist's gubernatorial candidacy paperwork, citing his work with the Center for Missing and Exploited Children. John Walsh also appears in Crist's "anti-murder" campaign advertisements.
Crist's tenure as attorney general has been criticized by some. Canadian anti-consumer-fraud activist and author Les Henderson, for instance, investigated and severely criticized the way Crist's office handled the Lou Pearlman Wilhelmina Scouting Network affair in his latest book Under Investigation (September 2006).
March 6, 2007. A lawsuit faults Crist. He delayed or interfered with investigations as attorney general, the suit says.
Music promoter Lou Pearlman needed help to keep his huge financial Ponzi scheme going. Tampa lawyer Jim Lowy said he got it from then-Florida Attorney General - and now Governor - Charlie Crist as well as major financial institutions.
2006 race
Main article: Florida gubernatorial election, 2006Crist consistently led Democratic opponent Jim Davis in statewide opinion polling during the fall of 2006. Crist opted to skip a scheduled appearance with President Bush Nov. 6, the eve of the election, at a Pensacola rally, saying that the area was already firmly in his camp and decided instead to appear in a more closely contested area with Arizona Sen. John McCain. Davis accused Crist of trying to avoid being associated with the unpopular President, whose job-approval rating stood at 34 percent nationally and merely 29 percent within Florida.
Crist led all candidates in fundraising throughout the campaign. Crist's fundraising activities were not immune to controversy. One of Crist's backers was real estate mogul Donald Trump, whose guests at a Crist fundraiser included a former Ukrainian official in the country illegally, and the owner of a company under investigation by Crist's office. Crist later returned the donations from the companies under investigation, while the Ukrianian official's fee was paid by another guest. Further controversy set in, however, with ethics complaints against Crist and his chief of staff for failing to investigate a major donor, personnel firm Convergys, that has been plagued by lawsuits and jail sentences for its role in failing to adequately protect the social security numbers of state employees.
A member of Crist's team was the Rev. O'Neal Dozier of the Worldwide Christian Church who had been recently dismissed from his position on the Broward Judicial Nominating Commission after calling Islam a "Cult" and a "dangerous religion", and opposing the construction of a Mosque on the grounds that "we don't want our area to be a breeding ground for terrorists". When questioned about Dozier, Crist originally replied that he was not going to remove him from his team as he was "happy" with the help he got, however, on Saturday 23 September it was reported that Crist told his staff to take Dozier off all his campaign committees, saying "While Charlie Crist respects Rev. Dozier's right to express his political and religious beliefs, he does not agree with Rev. Dozier's recent statements and writings concerning Islam"..
Platform
According to his campaign website and public pronouncements, Crist would take the following positions as governor:
- Abortion: Is "pro-life and pro-family," however, he has no plans to change abortion law in the state of Florida, stating in the August 21, 2006 issue of The Tampa Tribune that "I'd rather change people's hearts than change the law." However, Crist also said months earlier that he would, if elected governor, sign a ban on abortion similar to the one in South Dakota .
- Adoption: Provide a $3000 subsidy to adoptive families. Crist has not yet decided if he would repeal the ban on adoption by same-sex couples.
- Death Penalty: Defends the current law allowing non-unanimous juries to recommend the death penalty. He will be reviewing how the penalty is carried out after it took 34 minutes for Ángel Nieves Díaz to die from lethal injection December 13, 2006. "You wonder about the dosage and if there may have been some better medical diagnosis done prior to that" Crist said.
- Education: Continue to be an advocate for parent choice in education, including stringent testing and vouchers. Crist encourages standardized testing "to guarantee that each student receives a year's worth of learning in a year's worth of time."
- Eminent Domain: Strengthen current legal protections. Crist has stated that he believes the Kelo decision could have negative ramifications for Floridians.
- Environment: Supports ban on oil drilling near Florida's coastline. Continue the net "ban" (limits on allowable size) aimed at protecting aquatic wildlife.
- Foster Care: Provide a $5000 subsidy to those providing foster care to families who adopt foster children.
- Gay Rights: Crist's website says Crist strongly supports Florida's Defense of Marriage Act which is generally opposed by gays and lesbians. Crist's primary opponent Tom Gallagher claimed Crist supports gay civil unions and Crist was a signatory to the gay marriage amendment petition in Florida.
- Gun Rights: Balance gun owner rights with private property rights of employers. Crist has been endorsed by the NRA as a, "A+" candidate on gun rights. A+ is the highest endorsement given out by the NRA.
- Hate Crimes: Stop the "clear pattern of growth" in crimes motivated by sexual orientation.
- Health Care: Require prescription drugs to be tracked from the manufacturer to the pharmacy to ensure drug safety. Endorsed by the Florida Medical Association and the Florida Nurses Association.
- Homeowners Insurance: Provide affordable reinsurance. Report Card for Insurance Companies. Stop the Cherry Picking by Insurance Companies for the type of coverage they will provide. Abolition of Citizens insurance
- Immigration: Support closing borders for illegals and policies that promote legal immigration. Supports Senator Mel Martinez's immigration bill giving amnesty to illegals.
- Legalized Gambling: Oppose any expansion of gambling, but not support the repeal of the Broward County slot machine amendment.
- Lawsuit Reform: Support elimination of joint and several liability.
- Property Tax: Allow homeowners to move within the same county and between different counties while maintaining their previous property tax level.
- Right to Die: Promote the availability of end of life choices, including living wills and coordination with hospice care.
Governor
On January 2,2007 Crist took over the Governorship.
Personal life
Crist was born on July 24 1956 in Altoona, Pennsylvania. His parents are Charlie Sr., a Greek Cypriot, and Nancy Lee, who is Scots-Irish. Crist later moved to St. Petersburg, Florida, where he attended Riviera Middle School and graduated from St. Petersburg High School in 1974. He went on to attend Wake Forest University, where he played quarterback for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team. He received his undergraduate degree from Florida State University where he was the Vice President of the student body. Crist received his law degree from the Cumberland School of Law in Alabama. He is a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. In July 1979 he married Amanda Morrow, but the couple divorced on January 2, 1980. He is a member of the First United Methodist Church of St. Petersburg, Florida.
Electoral history
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Charlie Crist | 2,519,845 | 52.2 | ||
| Democratic | Jim Davis | 2,178,289 | 45.1 | ||
References
- Florida Attorneys General (1845 - Present)
- ^ Morgan, Lucy (2005-05-09). "Crist Will Enter Governor's Race". St. Petersburg Times. pp. 1A. Retrieved 2007-01-12.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - "Under Investigation: The Inside Story of the Florida Attorney General's Investigation of Wilhelmina Scouting Network, the Largest Model and Talent Scam in America", 2006, ISBN 0-9687133-3-5 (paperback)
- St. Petersburg Times March 6, 2007 Lawsuit faults Crist in giant Ponzi scheme
- Fla. GOP Candidate Snubs Bush - Associated Press, Nov. 6, 2006
- Anything but straight - Falls Church News-Press, July 13, 2006
- Religious Tolerance is Booed loudly - The Miami Herald, 13 July, 2006
- Crist dumps preacher who ranted on Islam - The Miami Herald. 23 September, 2006.
- Pastor appointed by Bush won't apologize for remarks on Islam - The Bradenton Herald (Associated Press), July 11, 2006
- Gallagher Takes Off the Gloves; Crist Retaliates - The Tampa Tribune (Media General), August 21, 2006
- However, Crist said that he would not sign a South Dakota-style bill when asked whether or not he would by a Miami radio station. When asked during debates with Gallagher, Crist said that he is "pro-life" but that he doesn't want to change the law. For these reasons it is difficult to understand exactly what Crist's position on abortion is. Crist would sign abortion ban, discusses adoption proposal - Naples Daily News , March 23, 2006
- Execution Puts Crist To Test Tampa Bay Online (TBO.com), December 15, 2006
External links
- Florida Governor Charlie Crist official state site
- Charlie Crist official campaign site
- National Governors Association - Florida Governor Charlie Crist biography
- Follow the Money - Charlie Crist & Jeff Kottkamp 2006 campaign contributions
- On the Issues - Charlie Crist issue positions and quotes
- Project Vote Smart - Governor Charlie Crist (FL) profile
Articles
- Morgan, Lucy (May 9, 2005). "Crist Will Enter Governor's Race." St. Petersburg Times, pp. 1A.
- 1998 U.S. Senate race results.
- Bousquet, Steve (February 18, 2006) "Crist's landlord reportedly takes illegal tax exemption" "St. Petersburg Times"
- March, William (January 8, 2006) Tampa Tribune
- (February 13, 2006) "Candidate's Fundraiser Uncovers Questionable Supporters" "Miami Herald"
- Tisch, Chris (Jannuary 17, 2005) "The Woman Who Asked Charlie That Question" "St. Petersburg Times"
- Capital Bureau
- Attorney seeks to block steroid questions in corrections lawsuit
- (October 3, 2006) "Book: Crist tried to "whitewash" probe" "The Gainsville Sun"
| Preceded byRichard Doran | Florida Attorney General 2003–2007 |
Succeeded byBill McCollum |
| Preceded byJohn E. Bush | Governor of Florida 2007 - |
Succeeded byIncumbent |
| Governors of Florida | ||
|---|---|---|
| Military (1821) |  | |
| Territorial (1822–1845) | ||
| State (since 1845) |
| |