Riviera Beach Councilwoman Billie Brooks, a lifelong Republican, says she’ll continue supporting Gov. Charlie Crist’s U.S. Senate bid despite Crist’s abandonment of the GOP to pursue an independent candidacy.

“He’s a people’s person. He’s not about partisan politics…I’m going to try to help him as much as I can,” said Brooks, who was named an honorary co-chair of Crist’s campaign in October.

Much of Crist’s local campaign leadership abandoned Crist when Crist bolted the GOP.

Today is the 63rd day that residents of Palm Beach County commission District 7 have gone without a commissioner. Former commissioner Addie Greene’s last day was April 30. She cited health concerns in stepping down.

Gov. Charlie Crist will appoint a replacement to fill Greene’s seat through November 2010. He has interviewed four finalists for the job: Riviera Beach Councilwoman Billie Brooks, retired educator Vincent Goodman, businessman Randy Johnson and state Rep. Priscilla Taylor, D-West Palm Beach.

It took Crist 64 days to name a replacement for former commissioner Mary McCarty, who resigned Jan. 8 under a federal corruption probe. Crist named Steven Abrams to the seat on March 13.

In 2007, when Warren Newell resigned from the commission under a federal corruption probe, Crist needed 31 days to name Bob Kanjian as his replacement.

While Greene’s seat has been vacant for nine weeks, she announced her intention to resign in early March and Crist interviewed the four finalists in April.

Gov. Charlie Crist will interview four finalists next week to replace Palm Beach County Commissioner Addie Greene, who’s stepping down April 30 for health reasons.

Click here to find out who’s in the running.