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Even though he wants the job, Gov. Charlie Crist says he won’t appoint himself to replace Mel Martinez in the U.S. Senate.
It’s a wise choice. Of the eight governors who did just that, seven lost their election bid to hold the seat.
See the list of the jump.
This blog has been updated since it was originally posted at 3:10 p.m.
By DAPHNE DURET
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
ORLANDO — U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez just told reporters at Orlando International Airport that he is indeed stepping down — of his own free will, and not under duress from anybody.
“This is a free country,” he said. “The people of Florida elected me. This is only about my desire to move on with the rest of my life.”
He described his departure as “a return to Florida and a return to my family.” He said he will not seek any other public office. And he said he would not reopen the possibility of become president of Florida State University; he had taken himself out of the running in mid-July.
He said he’s in good health, “thank God.” And he added that the next phase of his life “will be in the private sector.”
“There’s going to be a 60-day gap where I won’t be doing much of anything,” Martinez added, talking about spending time on Lake Eola with his wife, Kitty. And he said he would remain an outspoken member of the Cuban exile community, and would speak out against the island’s communist regime. “That has always been my passion. I will continue that lifelong passion.”
Martinez said he informed Gov. Charlie Crist of his decision by telephone, but the senator offered no hints of who his successor should be. He referred all such questions to Crist.
By the way, the resignation of a U.S. senator from a major state wasn’t apparently very fascinating to some of the big TV networks. CNN showed footage of Martinez speaking, but anchor Rick Sanchez kept talking the entire time. CNN Headline News actually allowed some of Martinez’s words to make it on the air before cutting away to other news.
Fox aired more of the news conference, including Martinez’s response to several questions. But they, too, broke away.
People in Florida and national politics reacted today to reports of U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez’s impending resignation:
“Mel Martinez’s life is a testament to the boundless promise that exists in America, where a young Cuban exile can come to the United States without his parents and rise to become a Cabinet secretary and U.S. senator. As he looks ahead towards the next phase of his life, I wish him and his family all the best.
“As Governor Crist considers who he will appoint as Florida’s next U.S. senator, I urge him to take great care in his selection. Florida deserves an interim senator who will go to Washington and serve as a true check on President Obama’s push for more wasteful government spending, government-run health care and cap-and-trade. The last thing Florida needs is a U.S. senator that will stand with President Obama instead of challenging the wrong direction he is leading our country and offering constructive conservative solutions moving forward.”
— Republican former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio, a 2010 candidate for Martinez’s seat“Senator Mel Martinez made history when he was elected to the U.S. Senate and I wish him only the best in his future endeavors. It is fitting that one of Senator Martinezs final votes was to confirm a history-making Supreme Court nominee, Judge Sonia Sotomayor and I am so pleased that he cast this vote one that I wholeheartedly support.”
— Democratic U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, a 2010 candidate for Martinez’s seat“Mel has been a good Senate colleague of mine, as well as a personal friend. He also has been a dedicated public servant for Florida. I look forward to our continued friendship — and to having the same bipartisan working relationship with his successor.”
— U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Florida“I have a great deal of respect for my good friend Mel Martinez. I know this decision was a difficult one for him, but I think he is doing what he believes is right for him and his family. We will immediately begin the process of selecting an appropriate replacement to serve the remainder of Senator Martinez’s term and I look forward to making an announcement in the coming weeks.”
— Gov. Charlie Crist, a Republican candidate for Martinez’s U.S. Senate seat
(more…)
Gov. Charlie Crist weighed in on a variety of topics this morning after signing several law enforcement-related bills at the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles this morning.
Sheltered from the blazing heat by tents, slews of department employees dressed in bright red shirts turned out to hear Crist speak and pose for pictures with the governor, who is also running to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez.
Among the bills Crist signed today was one that will expand the state’s DNA database. Law enforcement officials, now limited to taking DNA samples from those convicted of crimes, will now be able to take DNA from anyone who is arrested.
But Crist defended the bill (SB 2276) which civil liberties advocates argue is too far-reaching and have threatened to challenge in court.
“I think it’ll be alright or I wouldn’t have signed the bill. I think that we need to protect first and make sure that our people are safe. I think that this legislation will help us to do that even better,” he said.
Read what else Crist told reporters at a gaggle after the bill-signing after the jump. (more…)
In a swift turnaround, Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson today endorsed Attorney General Bill McCollum as the GOP candidate to replace Gov. Charlie Crist.
Just last week, Bronson succumbed to pressure from state GOP leaders, including RPOF Chairman Jim Greer, to stay out of the race against McCollum. Greer and others want to avoid an expensive and potentially politically divisive GOP primary while Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink presumably will not face an opponent in a Democratic battle for the post.
Dressed nearly identically in dark pin-striped suits, white dress shirts and red ties, McCollum and Bronson stood shoulder-to-shoulder at a press conference announcing the endorsement.
The duo acknowledged the influence that the state’s dismal economy and anticipated skimpy campaign resources will have over the election.
“The finances as we all know are going to be tight…extremely tight,” Bronson said.
All the concern about limited campaign funds comes as the candidates embark on the races more than 18 months before the November election next year. That’s because Crist unleashed the campaign floodgates when he announced he would not seek reelection to a second term as governor but would run to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez instead, McCollum said.
“It’s too bad we run these long races but that’s the way it is,” he said.
(more…)
Gelber, state Sen. Dave Aronberg, D-Greenacres, and former Democratic state Sen. Rod Smith of Alachua are all continuing to explore runs for the state’s top legal post in 2010. Incumbent AG Bill McCollum is running for governor.
The three potential Democratic candidates have talked extensively to each other over the last few weeks about avoiding a primary, but so far none has ruled out running.
“When we get into these primaries, it tends to become a circular firing squad,” Gelber said today.
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.
(more…)
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.
Republican Sen. Mel Martinez expressed “great pride” at the nomination of a fellow Hispanic — appellate Judge Sonia Sotomayor — for a Supreme Court vacancy and said he looks forward to a fair and thorough confirmation process that evaluates her “experience, fairness, impartiality, temperament, and knowledge of the law.”
Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson said Sotomayor has “extensive judicial exprience” and said he wants “a more detailed review of her record” during her confirmation.
Read their full statements after the jump…..
U.S. Rep. Ron Klein, D-Boca Raton, will seek a third term in Congress next year rather than pursue a U.S. Senate bid, he announced today.
Klein
With about $1.8 million in his campaign account and no other Democrats of statewide stature running, Klein said earlier this year he was considering a run for the seat of retiring Republican Sen. Mel Martinez. Two other Democrats — U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek of Miami and state Sen. Dan Gelber of Miami Beach — are running, although Gelber is mulling a switch to the attorney general’s race.
Democratic enthusiasm for the Senate seat has cooled since popular Republican Gov. Charlie Crist entered the race.
Read Klein’s statement after the jump…..
Moments after Ag Commissioner Charlie Bronson announced he would not challenge Attorney General Bill McCollum in a GOP primary for governor, McCollum picked up the endorsement of retiring U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez.
The Martinez endorsement comes after days of bitter in-fighting among GOP leaders over RPOF Chairman Jim Greer’s endorsement of McCollum and Gov. Charlie Crist, who is facing former House Speaker Marco Rubio in a primary to replace Martinez.
Greer yesterday wrote a letter to state GOP committee members defending his endorsements as necessary to avoid costly and divisive primaries. Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, a Democrat who announced her bid for governor, is not expected to face an opponent.
“I make no apologies for this decision, as I believe to do anything less would have provided our party with a significant disadvantage in the general election due to having a costly and combative primary,” Greer wrote.
He’s also asking party leaders to re-elect him to the post in July, but some GOP insiders expect Greer will face a fight.
Minutes after she announced her candidacy for governor, Florida Democratic Party leader Karen Thurman and former governor and U.S. Sen. Bob Graham endorsed Alex Sink.
Sink, with U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson one of only two Democrats elected to statewide office, ended speculation about her run the day after Gov. Charlie Crist announced he would not seek reelection but would run to replace retiring GOP U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez.
“In just a short period of time, Alex has already cut wasteful spending, cracked down on financial fraud and scams, reformed government contracting and provided our state with a fresh approach to solving problems and restoring Florida’s economy,” Graham said in a statement.
“Floridians are cheering today now that Alex Sink has announced her candidacy for governor. As a businesswoman who delivers real results for the people of Florida, CFO Alex Sink is not only the Democrats’ strongest candidate but she’s the very best candidate for the job,” Thurman’s release said.
Although Sink has been mum about her plans, her attention from national Democrats has not gone unnoticed.
Recently, one of Boca Raton U.S. Rep. Ron Klein’s aides, Stephanie Grutman, came to work for Sink. Sink hired spokeswoman Kyra Jennings, a veteran of several Democratic congressional campaigns, about three months ago.
Dominoes. 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.
Despite the “good riddance” reaction of many GOP leaders to the defection of Pennsylvania Sen. and former Warren Commission single-bullet theorist Arlen Specter, Politico calls the party’s crop of 2010 Senate recruits “Specter-like” and says it includes “some of the party’s best known RINOs” — that’s short for “Republicans In Name Only.”
Politico‘s Exhibit A: Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, expected to announce soon whether he’s running for the Senate seat of retiring Sen. Mel Martinez. A picture of Crist is featured with the online story.
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