Crist requests three applications for U.S. Senate
by Michael C. Bender | August 14th, 2009This story was updated from the original blog item. It appeared in print Aug. 15 on page 2A of The Palm Beach Post.
From left to right: Diaz-Balart, Martinez, Smith
By MICHAEL C. BENDER and DARA KAM
Palm Beach Post Capital Bureau
TALLAHASSEE — Offering the first hints of who might eventually win his U.S. Senate appointment, Gov. Charlie Crist requested applications Friday from three Republicans: two Miami Hispanics and a Tallahassee lobbyist with a long history in Florida politics.
The first of possibly seven application forms were sent to U.S. Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart and former U.S. Attorney Bobby Martinez, both Cuban-Americans. Jim Smith, a former secretary of state and Florida attorney general who also waged campaigns for governor and agriculture commissioner, was the third to receive an application form.
See the questionnaire here.
Crist said he wants to name a replacement for retiring Sen. Mel Martinez — the first Cuban American elected to the U.S. Senate — before Congress reconvenes on Sept. 8.
“There’s a certain amount of vetting that needs to take place,” Crist said about the six-page, 44-question application.
The eventual appointment will be a Republican who has an established relationship with Crist and pledges not to run for the seat in 2010, when Crist hopes to take over.
At least two of the first three applicants — Smith and Martinez — fit those qualifications. It’s not clear whether Diaz-Balart, 55, would be willing to give up the House seat he’s held for 16 years: He recently sent out invitations to the kick-off fund-raiser for his re-election campaign.
But by choosing two Cuban-Americans from Miami for initial applications, Crist may also be trying to appeal to voters in the back yard of his GOP primary opponent, former House Speaker Marco Rubio.
Diaz-Balart has ties to Crist: He endorsed Crist’s U.S. Senate campaign last month and shares a political consultant, Carlos Curbelo, the Florida Republican Party’s Hispanic outreach director.
Reached by e-mail, Diaz-Balart did not say if he would accept an appointment.
“Gov. Crist has the best interests of the people of Florida at heart,” he wrote. “I trust his judgment.”
Diaz-Balart, like Smith, was once a Democrat.
Smith, who heads one of the state’s largest lobbying firms, was elected to statewide office as a Democrat and Republican.
After serving eight years as a Democratic attorney general, Smith changed parties in 1987. At that time, he was the first Republican in the modern era to serve on the Florida Cabinet when then-Gov. Bob Martinez appointed him secretary of state, a position he was re-elected to until 1995.
Smith was appointed secretary of state a second time in 2002 by then-Gov. Jeb Bush. Smith’s closest tie to Crist is his son-in-law and lobbying partner, Brian Ballard, who was one of Crist’s top fund-raisers in 2006 and remains one of the governor’s closest advisers.
Smith said an appointment “would be a great honor … to end what’s been a long public career.”
Martinez, the U.S. attorney in Florida’s southern district from 1992 to 1993, oversaw Crist’s transition to governor in 2007 and attorney general in 2003. Originally named to the state Board of Education by Bush, he was re-appointed by Crist this year.
“To have the governor consider me is a tremendous honor,” Martinez said.
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August 14th, 2009 at 5:38 pm
[...] Updated: Latest Headlines 2009 August 14 by PoliticsFLA Staff Afternoon Edition Herald: ‘Tickets please’ to greet protesters at Wexler town hall Post: Crist requests three applications for U.S. Senate [...]
August 15th, 2009 at 10:59 am
The Governor knows Ken Plante and that he would be a consensus choice with independents, republicans and democrats.
If past legislators and current Florida legislators were polled, they would mostly all agree that Ken Plante would be a great choice.
Crist does not want a great choice. He wants a choice that will not interfere with his plan to become the U.S. Senator himself, which I personally believe will not happen. Crist is being “outed” as he goes along. His position on drilling, when it was to his personal advantage is now “out”. His personal ambitions will trip him up as the next year unfolds. He has insulted the latins and he has grossly insulted people with disabilities in this State. Crist is an anti-Americans With Disabilities politican. He attempted to rape the Disabled Transportation Trust Fund this year. Wise legislators stopped this folly.
Denny R. Wood dignity4@comcast.net
August 15th, 2009 at 7:41 pm
THREE MORE THIEVES TO CONTEND WITH!
August 16th, 2009 at 4:36 am
And the final list will allow for a write-in candidate. How do you spell “Charlie…”