Crist run for Senate would set off game of political musical chairs
by George Bennett | May 9th, 2009Dominoes. Chess pieces. Musical chairs. A multi-vehicle pileup on the interstate.
Whatever metaphor you prefer, Florida’s 2010 election season could send a horde of politicians in motion from the governor’s mansion in Tallahassee to town halls and village council chambers around the state.
Gov. Charlie Crist is expected to announce soon whether he’s running for the U.S. Senate seat of retiring Republican Mel Martinez. If Crist makes the leap, many political handicappers expect Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink and Attorney General Bill McCollum to launch campaigns for governor.
That, in turn, could lead several state legislators to give up their seats to pursue Sink’s and McCollum’s jobs. Then local politicians would have a chance to pursue those newly opened legislative positions.
“It’s the largest game of musical chairs in the history of Florida,” says Palm Beach County Democratic Party Chairman Mark Alan Siegel.
“It’ll be like chess pieces moving around a board,” says state Republican Party Chairman Jim Greer.
Below is a rundown of how some pieces could move in Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast.
HOW THE GAME BEGINS: SEN. MEL MARTINEZ RETIRES
THE NEXT STEP: FILLING THE NEWLY OPENED STATEWIDE OFFICES
Potential local candidates to replace Martinez, Sink, McCollum
THE FINAL STEP: FILLING THE NEWLY OPENED LEGISLATIVE SEATS
Where's the money? Use The Post's interactive database of who wants and who's getting federal dollars.
Use these interactive graphics to find and contact Palm Beach County and Treasure Coast legislators.
Sentenced to die for crimes judged heinous and cruel, inmates await execution in a 9 feet by 6 feet cell.
May 9th, 2009 at 6:56 am
Sachs for Aronberg’s seat
Laxer for Deutch’s seat
Irv for Skidmore’s seat
Aronberg for Attorney General
May 9th, 2009 at 6:59 am
No way to Wexler’s aide, Abruzzo or Rayder or Slosberg….dumb, dumber, and well tie between the last too…Are they Democrats or Republicans..or just stupid?
May 9th, 2009 at 7:00 am
Crist is not running….
May 9th, 2009 at 7:01 am
Vote Wexler Out!
May 9th, 2009 at 7:47 am
Anyone that works for Wexler or has been endorsed by Wexler or is Wexler…get your bags packing you are all going home..The dominos are going to move but not they way they think….
Jail Time
May 9th, 2009 at 9:15 am
Crist should change jobs, since he has miserably failed as governor. The insurance companies are still in charge of Florida, and all he ever wanted was self-promotion for his political ambitions. I hope he runs and loses!
May 9th, 2009 at 9:40 am
If Atwater jumps in for CFO the field clears. Same for Bogdanoff for State Senate.
May 9th, 2009 at 9:42 am
NEW PEOPLE!!! We need new people, not those who have already ruined Florida’s economy. A game of political hopscotch isn’t what we need for a solid recovery. Throw the $#%tards out!!!
May 9th, 2009 at 10:08 am
Gov. Crist is a lackluster Gov. Do nothing. Corruption is rampant — especially in PALM BEACH COUNTY….
Elected Officials idicted and JAILED! 4 out of 7 County Comm idicted & JAILED in PBC alone…
The 15th Judicial - FAMILY COURT - “FY” Division - CORRUPT and UNETHICAL at the hands of Corrupt Judge & CHILD ABUSER MARTIN COLIN…. Case#05-12432 Delray PD –
Colin recently BANISHED from Family Court — Placed in PROBATE….
How many familes has COLIN destroyed?
ALL LITIGANTS REVIEW ANYTHING MARTIN COLIN — especially if opposing counsel was JON ROOT, JOHN SCHUTZ & WEISS and HANDLER…. BEWARE!!! ALERT!!!!
May 9th, 2009 at 11:30 am
“It’s the largest game of musical chairs in the history of Florida,” says Palm Beach County Democratic Party Chairman Mark Alan Siegel.
Wow really Mark? The largest in history???? We live in exciting, important times, don’t we?????
Doofus
May 9th, 2009 at 11:31 am
Let’s hope some of the new faces from the local level emerge from all this, and that the retreads such as Merchant finally understand nobody wants them around.
May 9th, 2009 at 4:03 pm
Isn’t that Siegal guy the one who said the party has no money and they shut off the phones? He was also the loser who was thrown out of NY for assault…LOSER
May 9th, 2009 at 5:24 pm
I am very surprised that no one is considering Sen. Dan Gelber for the AG seat.
May 11th, 2009 at 7:22 am
[...] Palm Beach Post political blog wrote last week about the musical chairs to be faced if (when) Crist announces for the Senate [...]