Archive for August, 2009
Critics — conservatives in particular — will no doubt have plenty of reasons why they think Gov. Charlie Crist made the wrong choice in appointing his former chief of staff to serve out the remainder of U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez's term. Never elected to office. Potential conflicts of interest involving his firm and state contracts and other clients. He's negotiating the state's gambling compact (many conservatives including Crist's US Senate opponent Marco Rubio oppose gambling).
But it's some of the stances LeMieux took on gay adoption and gay benefits way back in 1998 when he ran unsuccessfully for the state House that could really rankle the conservative base.
In 1998, when LeMieux was challenging Democratic state Rep. Tracy Stafford for a Broward Congressional seat, he sought to siphon off votes from the district's gay community in Fort Lauderdale and Wilton Manor.
LeMieux told Steve Bousquet (back then of the Herald, now of the Times/Herald) in September 1998 that gay couples in Florida should be allowed to adopt children. He also said he favored domestic partnership laws to extend health care and other benefits enjoyed by married couples. He said unmarried partners should be permitted to be listed as beneficiaries on insurance policies.
LeMieux said he opposed gay marriage, but said he was willing to let voters have the final say in a referendum.
"Marriage is a fundamental kind of institution," LeMieux said. "If you're going to have such a significant change, I think the people would have to speak on it."
When asked today if they have any differences of opinions (aside from the fact that Crist likes the Bucs, LeMieux the 'Fins), Crist said he didn't know…
Gov. Charlie Crist entered the hushed Senate chambers of the Old Capitol at 11:36 a.m. to introduce his longtime confidante George LeMieux as Florida's new junior U.S. senator. The room erupted in a standing ovation as the pair reached the front of the room. "Are you surprised?" Crist asked as he walked past.
LeMieux replaces Mel Martinez, who is resigning with about 16 months remaining in his term. His wife Meike entered first with their three sons, Max, Taylor and Chase. The choice is not a major surprise, and it will focus new questions about LeMieux's advocacy on issues such as gambling and his law firm's legal work for the state.
The new senator said it is his love of Florida and his sons' future "that make me relish this honor and relish the work ahead."
Calling LeMieux a dedicated public servant and "a great man," Crist said: "He will serve well. He has even argued a case before the United States Supreme Court … his public service is extraordinary."
"I'm happy for my friend and I'm extremely happy for my state," Crist said. The two men embraced as
Crist briefly paid tribute to the nine other contenders for the Senate seat. "I want to thank all the wonderful people who went through this process," Crist said. "This is a grueling thing to do."
The historic and high-ceilinged chamber was packed with Crist staff members, legislative staffers, some lobbyists and Republican Party employees, including chairman Jim Greer.
LeMieux, a 40-year-old lawyer, served as Crist's chief of staff in his first year as governor, as chairman of his campaign for governor in 2006, and as deputy attorney general and chief of staff during the four years Crist was Florida's attorney general. The two men forged a political partnership in the late 1990s when LeMieux was chairman of the Broward County Republican Party and Crist was running for the U.S. Senate.
Crist could face criticism for appointing a political insider who has never held elective office, and a man who strongly encouraged Crist to negotiate a deal that expanded gambling on Seminole Indian reservations. As Washington insiders know, LeMieux was instrumental in Crist's decision to avoid appearing with President Bush on Election Eve 2006 in Pensacola, a decision that infuriated Bush's senior political adviser, Karl Rove.
– Steve Bousquet
Well, that didn't take long. Less than 10 minutes after Gov. Charlie Crist's press conference to announce he's appointing his former chief of staff George Lemieux to fill out the rest of Mel Martinez' U.S. Senate term, Fox News was airing a head shot of Lemieux and a brief story on the pick – calling Lemieux 'essentially a caretaker senator' who will be trusted to do Crist's work until Crist presumably gets elected to a full U.S. Senate term in 2010.
And the Florida Chamber had its statement queued up and ready. Here's what Florida Chamber CEO and President Mark Wilson had to say:
“On behalf of employers throughout Florida, we look forward to working with Senator-designate LeMeiux, and we are confident that he will continue to show the same commitment to the issues that matter most to the hardworking business owners of Florida.”
“During a time when critical employer issues such as card check, health care reform and international trade are before the U.S. Senate, this selection is crucial to Florida’s future economic recovery. We appreciate Governor Crist’s decision to pass on applications from trial lawyers and other agendas which would be detrimental to future job creation during this important time.”
“I have had the privilege to frequently work with George LeMieux during his tenure in this administration, on issues ranging from education reform to transportation funding as well as improving our state’s legal climate. I have been consistently impressed with his command of the issues, respect for the process and commitment to the employers that drive Florida’s economy.”
U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez isn't gushing over his successor, but maybe that's out of deference to the other people on the shortlist: "I congratulate George LeMieux for being appointed by the governor to fill the remainder of my term. George is bright, capable, and an accomplished administrator. My staff and I stand ready to ensure a smooth transition."
Gov. Charlie Crist turned to his political shadow and former chief of staff, George LeMieux, to stand in as Florida's U.S. senator until Crist can win the seat himself in the 2010 election.
The governor's office will announce the decision at 11:15 a.m. Friday in Tallahassee. Crist has said that he wanted his appointment to have some time to get ready before Congress reconvenes on Sept. 8.
Crist faced the delicate task of filling a seat he is running for himself after Sen. Mel Martinez announced three weeks ago that he was stepping down. In choosing LeMieux, Crist signaled that personal loyalty and political instincts mattered more than any potential perception of cronyism. Full story here.
I’m opposed to the proposed $20 billion nuclear reactors that FPL wants to build in brain-dead Homestead. But my position is based less on opposition to nuclear power than to the fact Florida’s utilities are doing everything possible to maintain profits based on units of energy produced: growth by the megawatt. Not conservation. My point of view: solve the underlying policies so utilities are
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I took this in Washington, D.C. The guy gave his permission. He said he has been growing his hair for 17 years. Almost to his ankles, he has the longest hair I have ever seen. Thanks to my trusty phone, I got this shot (hit on photo to enlarge it). Here are more photos from my trip: Washington Monument. These two were taken at the American Folk Art Museum in New York. They are Kaleidoscope
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It’s Friday in the dog days of August. So here’s a point to consider. On network news last night it soaked up two minutes of precious air time: which of the Kennedy children would step into the US Senate seat held by the late Ted Kennedy. Granted, it is an easier question to toss in the air for a couple ‘o minutes than probing why the stock market goes up when the economy is bad. Worried about
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Ever since wandering away from the pseudo-industrial barrios of their native Uruguay almost a half-decade ago, the dark, druggy boys of Monoblock — Martin TC and Guikle — have survived an…
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