On Wednesday, Gov. Charlie Crist held bill signings in Jacksonville, where he also had a fund-raiser for his U.S. Senate campaign. On Thursday, he signed bills in the Panhandle, where he also had a fund-raiser for his Senate campaign. Friday, he visited a job training center in Fort Lauderdale, where he … well, you get the idea.
State officials confirmed Crist did not use a state plane Wednesday, Thursday or Friday, which means he likely drove to the North Florida bill signings and took a commercial flight to South Florida. With Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp having been bruised badly for his use of state planes, and with Crist trying to balance his duties as governor with his political ambitions, he appears to be taking pains to avoid being accused of misusing state aircraft.
Asked if he flew commercial to South Florida, Crist said: "I did today because I have an event tonight and I don't think the taxpayer ought to get me to South Florida." Pressed by The Miami Herald's Amy Sherman, Crist said: "I'm trying to do the right thing," as he put his hand on the reporter's shoulder. He declined to provide details of his Friday night fund-raiser, saying: "It's for my campaign."
– Steve Bousquet
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