Beth Kigel, who was organizational chairwoman for Gov. Charlie Crist’s Senate campaign in Palm Beach County, quit that post today upon Crist’s announcement that he’s bucking the GOP to run as an independent.

Kigel is also the county GOP’s vice-chairwoman. She was a key early Crist supporter in 2006 when most of the local Republican establishment backed Tom Gallagher in the Republican primary for governor.

Kigel’s statement:

“Today, I am resigning my position with the Charlie Crist for U.S. Senate campaign. I am disappointed that Governor Crist has decided to step away from the Republican Party at this critical time to run as a “No Party Affiliation” candidate. As a lifelong Republican, I stand with our Party to effect the necessary changes and direction so badly needed for our Country to provide all Americans with an opportunity for personal prosperity and a smaller, non-intrusive government. My support will be with our Republican nominee for Florida’s U.S. Senate race.”

To see where some other local Crist supporters stand, click here.

While much of Gov. Charlie Crist’s Palm Beach County campaign operation is expected to abandon him if he abandons the GOP this afternoon to pursue an independent Senate campaign, some members of Crist’s local team say they’ll stick with Crist.

Former school board member and former Republican Palm Beach County Commissioner Bob Kanjian, one of 11 honorary co-chairs of Crist’s campaign in the county, says he’ll remain behind Crist. Attorney Bill Berger and county Housing Authority Chairman Dwight Spence, who were among about 20 other people with the title “co-chair,” say they’ll continue to support Crist as well.

Berger said the governor asked his thoughts on a possible independent bid Monday but didn’t reveal his own plans.

Said Berger: “I expressed to Charlie that I’m behind him 100 percent.”

Most of the approximately 30 members of Crist’s local campaign leadership team are Republican activists who are expected to choose the GOP over Crist if the governor goes the indie route. Crist’s top local campaign operative, Beth Kigel, hasn’t commented, but is expected to quit Crist’s campaign if Crist leaves the GOP.

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Palm Beach County Republican Vice Chairwoman Beth Kigel was included today on the regional leadership team for Charlie Crist’s U.S. Senate campaign. Kigel was named the county chair of the campaign in October.

Continue reading for the rest of Crist’s leadership team.

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Republican operative Beth Kigel, who chaired Charlie Crist’s 2006 governor campaign in Palm Beach County when most GOP bigs backed Tom Gallagher, will head Crist’s 2010 Senate campaign in the county. Kigel, the Palm Beach County GOP vice chairwoman, will have the title of organizational chairwoman for the county.

Republican elected officials on Crist’s team for Palm Beach County include County Commissioner Steven Abrams, state Reps. Carl Domino of Jupiter and William Snyder of Stuart, Boca Raton Mayor Susan Whelchel, Palm Beach Gardens Mayor William Russo and school board member Monroe Benaim.

Crist’s campaign rolled out the Palm Beach County leadership list a few hours before the Palm Beach County Republican Executive Committee is scheduled to conduct a straw poll on the Senate race. Former House Speaker Marco Rubio is 8-0 in REC straw polls in other counties.

Read the complete Crist campaign list after the jump…..

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