Florida Democrats appear to be spared a costly primary election for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Mel Martinez.

State Sen. Dan Gelber has dropped out of the race against U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, who’s already collected more than $1 million in campaign contributions.

“It makes little sense — when we do face the prospect of real change in Florida — for me to participate in a potentially divisive primary for U.S. Senate that will only serve to diminish our chances against a very formidable and well-known Republican nominee,” Gelber, D-Miami Beach, said in a message posted on Facebook.

Republicans so far still have a potentially divisive primary on their hands. Former House Speaker Marco Rubio is still in the race against Gov. Charlie Crist despite Republican Party of Florida Chairman Jim Greer’s endorsement of the governor.

Democrats, too, want to avoid costly and potentially politically damaging primaries, as Gelber said to his supporters on a Facebook posting.

Gelber’s expressed an interested in running for attorney general, along with fellow senator Dave Aronberg of Greenacres and former state senator Rod Smith. Gelber’s name is also being tossed around as a possible running mate with CFO Alex Sink, who is likely to be the Democratic candidate for governor.
Read Gelber’s message after the jump.
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U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Miramar, topped this story in the Wall Street Journal today detailing how members of Congress spend their office expense accounts.

Florida Rep. Alcee Hastings spent $24,730 in taxpayer money last year to lease a 2008 luxury Lexus hybrid sedan. Ohio Rep. Michael Turner expensed a $1,435 digital camera. Eni Faleomavaega, the House delegate from American Samoa, bought two 46-inch Sony TVs.

The expenditures were legal, properly accounted for and drawn from allowances the U.S. government grants to lawmakers. Equipment purchased with office expense accounts must be returned to the House or the federal General Services Administration when a lawmaker leaves office.

But as British politicians come under widening scorn for spending public money on everything from candy bars to moat-dredging, an examination of U.S. lawmakers’ expense claims shows Washington’s elected officials have also used public funds for eye-catching purchases.

Riverside National Bank, where state Senate President Jeff Atwater worked as a regional president, is again ranked among the weakest banks in the nation, according to a new listing from TheStreet.com. The bank, based in Fort Pierce, was also identified as deeply troubled and given one of the lowest safety ratings last month from BauerFinancial. Our story about that here.

Atwater, R-North Palm Beach, left the bank in February, but the association still could haunt his upcoming campaign to be the state’s chief financial officer. And he may not be alone in needing to distance himself from the troubled banking industry. The state Republican Party has made a point of identifying Democratic gubernatorial candidate Alex Sink, the state’s current CFO, as “banker Alex Sink.”

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Former House Rep. Dennis Baxley is leaving his post as executive director of the Christian Coalition of Florida.

Baxley, an Ocala undertaker, led the group’s anti-gambling efforts during the legislative session as lawmakers revised a compact with the Seminoles.

Baxley said he’s resigning after 18 months so he can go to work on political campaigns and endorse candidates which the coalition does not do.

“I love working the issues but it’s campaign season. I’m getting restless,” he said.

Baxley wouldn’t identify which candidates he supports but that “you can bet they’re going to be some of the more conservatives.”

Could it be that Baxley will back former House Speaker Marco Rubio, the Miami Republican challenging Gov. Charlie Crist in a GOP primary to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez?

“I do love that guy,” Baxley, laughing, said of Rubio.

West Palm Beach City Commissioner Kimberly Mitchell, a Republican, says she’s supporting Democrat Alex Sink for governor in 2010 rather than presumed GOP frontrunner Bill McCollum.

Mitchell, whose city commission seat is nonpartisan, also says she’ll cross party lines to support Democratic state Sen. Dave Aronberg if Aronberg runs for attorney general in 2010.

On the other hand, Mitchell favors conservative Republican Marco Rubio in the GOP’s U.S. Senate primary against more moderate frontrunning Gov. Charlie Crist. Mitchell is also crossing county lines to back state Rep. Ellyn Bogdanoff, R-Fort Lauderdale, in a GOP state Senate primary rather than Palm Beach County candidates Carl Domino or Nick Loeb.

Mitchell’s city commission seat is up for reelection in 2010 and she’s often mentioned as a potential mayoral candidate in 2011.

Senate President Jeff Atwater and his lieutenants are holding a Fourth of July fundraiser for GOP senate candidates at the NASCAR Coke Zero 400 sprint cup race in Daytona Beach.

Tickets for the race are $5,000.

That’s just 10 times more than the face value of two tickets for three full days of racing at the Daytona International Speedway.

Atwater, Senate President Pro-tem Mike Fasano and Senate Majority Leader Alex Diaz de la Portilla are the hosts.

Sen. Jim King will undergo surgery to combat advanced pancreatic cancer, his wife Linda said in an e-mail today.

King, a Jacksonville Republican who served as Senate President and was first elected to the Florida House more than two decades ago, was diagnosed with cancer shortly after the legislative session ended earlier this month.

King was responsible for creating the James and Esther King Biomedical Research program, a grant program administered by the Department of Health named after his parents.

The surgeon who performed a biopsy and ultrasound on King received one of the grants, Linda King wrote.

“Together, we have decided on a course of treatment and will soon begin this journey. We have decided to take the surgical route since it offers, potentially, the best chance for a longer life. The surgery is very difficult, and the recovery even more so, but we have faced adversity before and won, and we have faith that we will this time as well,” Linda King wrote.

She also asked that well-wishers contact King or the family through his website, www.caringbridge.org/visit/senatorjimking.

Go to the jump to read the full text of Linda King’s message.
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National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Cornyn explains his endorsement of Crist in a column today published by Red State:

The NRSC’s endorsement is not a reflection on Marco Rubio; it is a realistic assessment of both the 2010 Florida Senate race and the national map. With the Democrats standing on the precipice of a filibuster-proof majority, we cannot afford to lose this seat in 2010. Endorsing Charlie Crist will save the NRSC precious resources that can be used to fight in other states. It will also ensure that the strongest Republican candidate maintains control of this seat, and build our numbers with the resulting opportunity to shape policy.

While Rubio is certainly an up-and-comer in Florida, a recent Mason Dixon poll showed that he only has a 44 percent name ID among Republicans, which will ultimately force him to spend a lot more money introducing himself to Floridians. Govenor Crist, in contrast, has a 100 percent name ID among Republicans, according to the same poll. In a general election match-up with Democrat Congressman Kendrick Meek, Charlie Crist wins handily 55 percent to 24 percent.

Former state Rep. Gayle Harrell, R-Stuart, announced this morning she’ll make another run for District 81. The seat, which Harrell held until term limits forced her out last year, is currently held by Rep. Adam Fetterman, D-Port St. Lucie.

“I’ve worked to pass major legislation dealing with a wide range of issues, from seaport and homeland security to education accountability and flexibility; I’ve fought hard to improve our community. We still have a lot of work to do, and that’s why I’m looking to go back to Tallahassee and get our state back on track,” Harrell said in a statement.

Harrell made her announcement at Port St. Lucie GOP headquarters. Speaker designate Dean Cannon attended the event.

UPDATE: Reaction from Florida Democratic Party spokesman Eric Jotkoff:

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With state Rep. Kelly Skidmore, D-Boca Raton, announcing late Thursday that she’s running for state Senate in 2010, several Democrats are expressing interest in her Palm Beach-Broward state House seat.

Tara Laxer, an aide to Democratic state Sen. Ted Deutch of Boca Raton, is considering a run in a district that seems to have a thing for Senate aides. Skidmore was an aide to Deutch’s Senate predecessor, current U.S. Rep. Ron Klein, before she won the seat in 2006.

Other Dems to watch: former state Rep. Irving Slosberg, who in the past has said “anything’s possible” if a south-county seat opens up; insurance agent Len Turesky; educator Sheldon Klasfeld; and Democratic activist Steve Nichol.

Republicans need not apply. Democrats hold a 54-to-23 percent registration edge in Skidmore’s District 90 and the GOP hasn’t fielded a candidate there in recent memory.

Send cards, letters, certain types of books and subscriptions to magazines or newspapers — but don’t send care packages — if you want to ease Kevin McCarty’s eight-month federal prison sentence.

So advises McCarty’s wife, former Palm Beach County Commissioner Mary McCarty, in an e-mail to friends this week as Kevin McCarty reported to a federal lockup in Miami for his role in his wife’s public corruption.

In her e-mail, Mary McCarty called it a “tough day” as her husband went to prison.

More tough days are coming soon. McCarty, who resigned in January and pleaded guilty in March to honest-services fraud, is to be sentenced next week for her misdeeds. She could face five years in prison, but has asked that she be incarcerated for no more than a year and a day.

Mary McCarty’s e-mail advised friends of some dos and don’ts now that Kevin McCarty is in prison.

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Art Argenio, the self-described “most conservative person in the world,” said party leaders talked him out of running against Joe Negron in a Republican state Senate primary.

From former Palm Beach Post Martin County bureau chief Glenn Henderson’s blog:

Argenio said party leaders had encouraged him to drop out from next month’s primary.

“Joe’s been in the race for more than a year. He had deeper resources than I,” he said.

He said he was never really looking forward to “mixing it up” with Negron, who has been endorsed by Pruitt and former Gov. Jeb Bush. Without a divisive primary, Argenio said, the party has a much better chance of beating the Democrats in the August general election.

State Rep. Kelly Skidmore, D-Boca Raton, will enter the 2010 race for the state Senate seat of Senate President Jeff Atwater, R-North Palm Beach, who is running for chief financial officer.

Skidmore, serving her second House term, does not live in Atwater’s Senate District 25 but said she would have “no problem moving back into the district where I have lived most of my life.”

Palm Beach-Broward District 25 has a Republican registration edge of roughly 38 percent to 36 percent. But Democrat Barack Obama carried the district in November’s presidential election.

Three Republicans have already announced they are running to succeed Atwater: state Reps. Ellyn Bogdanoff of Fort Lauderdale and Carl Domino of Jupiter and businessman Nick Loeb of Delray Beach.

Former Democratic state Sen. Skip Campbell has said he’s interested in running for the District 25 Senate seat.

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Art Argenio is dropping out of an anticipated brutal GOP primary battle against Joe Negron to replace retiring state Sen. Ken Pruitt, according to a source close to the campaigns.

Argenio is expected to make the announcement at a 3 p.m. press conference at St. Lucie County GOP headquarters.

The pair, who both formerly served in the state House, clashed in a bitter special election primary in 1999 (won by Argenio) and another tough primary in 2000 (won by Negron). Democrat Bill Ramos has also opened a campaign and frequent-filing Democrat Stan Smilan has expressed interest.

Argenio would not confirm or deny reports that he will withdraw from the race but deferred to this afternoon’s media availability.

“We’ll be answering all questions then,” Argenio said.

A special June 30 primary and Aug. 4 general election have been scheduled to fill Pruitt’s Treasure Coast-Palm Beach County seat.

More than 13 percent of the children in state care are being given mind-altering drugs, according to an audit of the Department of Children and Families.

And at least 16 percent of the 2,669 children on the psychotropic medications don’t have a consent form from a parent or a judge as required by state law.

The audit is the result of the apparent suicide of a 7-year-old Broward County boy in foster care last month.

DCF Secretary George Sheldon ordered the review after details surrounding Gabriel Myers’ death revealed that the agency database did not include the correct information about the drugs the child was taking and his case files did not include authorization for administering the drugs.

The report, issued by a panel of experts, also found that

• A total of 2,669 (13.19%) of the 13,000 Florida children in out-of-home care have been prescribed one or more psychotropic medications.
• The largest segment (59%) of those 2,669 children on psychotropic medication is between the ages of 13 and 17 years old.
• There are 73 children (2.75% of the 2,669) ages 5 and under who are receiving psychotropic medications.
• No record of consent or judicial order was found for 16.2% of the 2,669 children receiving psychotropic medication.

Sheldon is holding a press conference at 2 p.m. to discuss the findings. Read the report here.

Republicans Nick Loeb and Allen West aren’t running against each other. But businessman Loeb’s switch last week from a state House race to a state Senate campaign drew some scorching criticism from congressional candidate West that Loeb characterized as “threatening.”

After getting an e-mail from the Loeb campaign announcing the switch, West fired back a Blackberry response asking to be removed from Loeb’s mailing list.

“My Country and this State are in serious peril. My character and integrity compel me to not support confused, unprincipled political opportunists,” West wrote. “I wish you good health and a prosperous life, but you are not what our State, and certainly our Country, needs at this critical and defining moment. No response required and please, do not cross me. Best regards, Allen.”

Loeb professed puzzlement at West’s response.

“I’m not sure why he sent me an e-mail threatening me,” Loeb said.
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Eric Draper, lobbyist and policy director for Audubon of Florida , said he will file papers today to run for Florida agriculture commissioner.

“I’ve spent most of my life working to keep our water clean and the state green and to me this is a continuation of that effort,” said Draper, a third generation Floridian.

Other Democrats in the race include former state Rep. Rick Minton Jr. of Fort Pierce and former Suwannee County Commissioner Randy Hatch. Republicans running include U.S. Rep. Adam Putnam of Bartow and state Sen. Carey Baker of Eustis.

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Florida Democrats are urging Senate Democratic Leader Al Lawson to drop a challenge to incumbent U.S. Rep. Allen Boyd, also a Democrat, and run for a Cabinet post instead.

Lawson, an insurance agent, is being encouraged to run to replace Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, another Democrat who is leaving office after one term to run for governor.

That could make for an uncomfortable 2010 legislative session.

Senate President Jeff Atwater officially entered the race last week.

The chamber’s top Democrat and top Republican running against each other for the statewide race could put a hasty end to the bipartisan camaraderie the pair have enjoyed (mostly) during this year’s session.

Florida will buy 403 acres in St. Lucie County to protect the Indian River Lagoon and infuse the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution with research money under a $24-million deal approved Wednesday by Gov. Charlie Crist and the Florida Cabinet.

The deal secures another piece of the 26,380-acre Indian River Lagoon Blueway project that is a priority for the state’s premier land conservation program, Florida Forever. The state has purchased more than 4,000 acres for the project.

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Gov. Charlie Crist signed the 2009-2010 $66.5 billion state budget today but lawmakers could be forced to come back to cut it as they did earlier this year.

“I’m hoping it’s not going to happen but the possibility is real,” Senate President Jeff Atwater, R-North Palm Beach, said after Crist’s budget signing today.

Lawmakers could come back as early as September to ratify a compact Crist is expected to sign with the Seminole Tribe of Florida.

But they may have to also address the budget because they didn’t back on spending enough or raise taxes and fees high enough, depending on how quickly the state’s economy picks up.

“Had we gone for further reductions to ensure that it never would happen we may have been cutting deeper than we necessarily had to,” Atwater said. “In walking the fine line that we’ve walked, if the recovery is prolonged in its beginning, it’s possible.”

Senate Democratic Leader Al Lawson, who has served nearly three decades in the legislature, said he believes a special budget-cutting session will be necessary before lawmakers reconvene in March.

“There would have to be a drastic increase in revenue for us not to do that. The economy is still not responding like it should. I think everyone knows that. People don’t like to talk about it. But I think that’s where we’re going to be,” said Lawson, D-Tallahassee.
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