Charles Crist, Jr.
44th Governor of Florida
Incumbent
Assumed office  January 2, 2007
Lieutenant	Jeff Kottkamp
Preceded by	Jeb Bush
35th Attorney General of Florida
In office 2003 – 2007
Governor	Jeb Bush
Preceded by	Richard E. Doran
Succeeded by	Bill McCollum
21st Florida Education Commissioner
In office 2001 – 2003
Governor	Jeb Bush
Preceded by	Tom Gallagher
Succeeded by	Jim Horne
Deputy Secretary of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation
In office 1999 – 2000
Governor	Jeb Bush
Florida State Senator
In office 1992 – 1998
Born	July 24, 1956 (1956-07-24) (age 53) Altoona, Pennsylvania
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Amanda Morrow (1979-1980) (divorced) Carole Rome (2008-present)
Residence	St. Petersburg, Florida
Alma mater	Florida State University, Cumberland School of Law
Profession	Lawyer
Religion	Methodist
Signature
Website	flgov.com

Charles Joseph "Charlie" Crist, Jr. (born July 24, 1956) is an American politician of the Republican Party and the current Governor of Florida. He was born in Altoona, Pennsylvania, and moved to St. Petersburg, Florida, at age 4.

A graduate of Florida State University, Crist has served as a state education commissioner, a member of the Florida State Senate, and had unsuccessfully sought to replace U.S. senator Bob Graham. He was elected Florida Attorney General in 2002, and held that office until his election as governor. As attorney general, he was noted for his efforts to expand the authority of his office to prosecute civil rights violations and protect the environment, as well as his involvement in the Terri Schiavo case, where he broke with governor Jeb Bush on pursuing legal options to preserve her life.

He was elected governor in 2006 with 52.4% of the vote (against opponent Jim Davis), and has taken conservative positions on a broad range of social issues, including support for gun rights and capital punishment and opposition to gay marriage and gay adoption. He has diverged from Republican orthodoxy on fiscal management and environmental policy, particularly while working with the Obama administration on the federal stimulus package, opposing some forms of offshore oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico and using state funds to purchase land in an effort to restore the Florida Everglades. He has also been credited with fostering better relationships with minority communities, particularly the African-American community.

Crist gained a measure of prominence nationwide by taking an active role in the 2008 presidential election, both for endorsing and campaigning for Republican candidate John McCain and for a political controversy sparked when he signed a bill moving the presidential primary date in Florida to January 29, 2008.

While his term as governor ends in January 2011, Crist announced on May 12, 2009 that he will not run for re-election as governor and instead will run for the US Senate.

Contents 1 Personal life 2 Early career 3 Florida attorney general 4 2006 gubernatorial campaign 5 Record as governor 6 Allegations of Mismanagement 7 Political activity 7.1 2008 presidential election 7.2 Republican Governors Association meeting in Miami 7.3 Outrage documentary 7.4 2010 Senate candidate 8 References 9 External links

[edit] Personal life

Crist was born in Altoona, Pennsylvania^[1] on July 24, 1956 to Dr. Charlie Crist Sr., an American physician of Greek Cypriot descent, and Nancy Lee, of Scotch-Irish American descent.^[2] His family name is adapted from the original Greek name "Christodoulou".^[3] Crist moved to St. Petersburg, Florida, as a child, where he attended Riviera Middle School^[4][5] and graduated from St. Petersburg High School in 1974. He is the second of four children and has three sisters: Margaret Crist Wood, Dr. Elizabeth Crist Hyden and Catherine Crist Kennedy. He attended Wake Forest University for two years, where he played quarterback for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team. Crist earned his undergraduate degree from Florida State University where he was elected Vice President of the student body and was a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. He received his law degree from the Cumberland School of Law in Alabama.^[6][7]

In July 1979, Crist married Amanda Morrow. The couple had no children and divorced less than a year later.^[8] Crist later became engaged to Carole Rome on July 3, 2008 and was married^{[9][10][11][12]} on December 12, 2008, at the First Methodist Church of St. Petersburg, where Crist is a member.^[13][14][15] Gay rights groups protested the passage of the Florida Amendment 2 (now Article 1 Section 27 of the Florida Constitution) ban on gay marriage outside the church and reception.^[16][17]

[edit] Early career

After graduating from the Cumberland School of Law in 1981, and having passed the bar on his third attempt, ^[18] Crist was hired as general counsel to Minor League Baseball, which was headquartered in St. Petersburg. Drawn to politics, Crist was a candidate for public office for the first time in 1986, as a Republican in the primary race for a state Senate seat in Pinellas County. After losing in a runoff, Crist joined his brother-in-law in private practice in St. Petersburg, but soon returned to politics as an aide in the successful 1988 United States Senate campaign of Connie Mack III, who he has since described as his political mentor.^[19]

He was elected to the Florida Senate in 1992, representing parts of St. Petersburg.^[20] He established a reputation as a law and order senator, sponsoring legislation requiring inmates to serve at least 85% of their sentences before becoming eligible for parole. He even earned the moniker "Chain Gang Charlie" in some editorials for sponsoring a bill to re-establish chain gangs.^[1] He also supported teacher salary increases, co-sponsored laws that created charter schools, and created a vanity license plate sold to raise funds for Everglades conservation.^[20] As chairman of the Senate Ethics and Elections Committee, Crist pursued an investigation into then-governor Lawton Chiles amid allegations that his campaign had made "scare calls" to senior citizens days before the 1994 gubernatorial election. Chiles eventually testified before Crist and the committee and admitted that his campaign had made the calls.^[1][19]

Crist gained statewide name recognition in 1998 as the Republican challenger to the popular incumbent U.S. Senator, Democrat Bob Graham. He lost to Graham by 26 percent^[21] but was elected Education Commissioner of Florida in 2000 - a position he held until it became an office filled by political appointment in 2003, pursuant to a 1998 constitutional amendment. ^[19]

[edit] Florida attorney general

In 2002, Crist was elected Attorney General. Supporters of his candidacy included America's Most Wanted host John Walsh, who publicly filed Crist's gubernatorial candidacy paperwork, citing his work with the Center for Missing and Exploited Children. During his tenure as Attorney General, Crist was lauded by civil rights and consumer groups for expanding the powers of his office to prosecute civil rights and fraud cases.^[1] He received acclaim for his work to combat spam e-mails, freeze utility rates, end telecom deception, and protect the environment.^[22] He was strongly criticized by advocates of government intervention in the Terri Schiavo case when he ended official attempts to keep Schiavo on life support.^[1][23]

In September, 2006 Canadian anti-consumer-fraud activist and author Les Henderson criticized Crist's handling of the Lou Pearlman-Wilhelmina Scouting Network affair in his self published book Under Investigation. Pearlman, a former boy-band producer ('N Sync, Backstreet Boys) and modeling agency owner serving a 25 year sentence for a $300 million Ponzi scheme, had been under investigation by the Attorney General's office since 2002, during the term of attorney general Bob Buttersworth. In 2004, the assistant attorney general leading the investigation, Jacqueline Dowd, was dismissed by the office of the Attorney General. Her successor, John MacGregor, ended the investigation in 2004. In later comments, Dowd stated that she did not know why she was dismissed. During the 2006 gubernatorial campaign, Crists' campaign manager commented that she had resigned, amicably, over a difference of opinion on her contact with the press. Henderson, citing $5,000 in campaign contributions from Pearlman companies to Crist received a year after the investigation was complete, argued that the investigation was dropped because of Pearlman's political connections. The Crist campaign responded that decisions on individual investigations were left to statewide staff attorneys and did not involve the attorney general.^[24][25] A lawsuit stemming from the Ponzi scheme and investment scandal alleges that Crist and other state regulators failed to protect investors, and also cites campaign contributions.^[26]

[edit] 2006 gubernatorial campaign

During the fall of 2006, Crist consistently led Democratic opponent Jim Davis in statewide opinion polling and so opted to skip a politically risky appearance with President George W. Bush. Crist had reasoned that the Pensacola area was already firmly in his camp, and instead decided to appear in a more closely contested area with Arizona Senator John McCain. Davis accused Crist of trying to avoid being associated with the unpopular president, whose job-approval rating stood at 34 percent nationally and merely 29 percent within Florida.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Record as governor

Crist, one of the more popular Florida governors,^[27] has taken generally conservative positions on many social policy issues while also receiving criticism from time to time from Florida Republicans for his fiscal approach, for urging bipartisan cooperation — particularly with President Barack Obama — and for the rigor (or lack thereof) of his official schedule.^{[28][29][30][31][32][33][34]}

Staking out a conservative position on social issues, Crist has supported capital punishment^[35] and gun rights; in 2008 he signed into law a provision that prevents employers from prohibiting employees' bringing firearms to the workplace, as long as the weapons are secure and individuals maintain a concealed carry license. ^[36][37] On the other hand, Crist has received some criticism both for his approach to fiscal policy and state spending. In January 2009, when the state was facing the repercussions of the nationwide recession, Crist angered some political allies for vetoing proposed budget cuts to popular programs despite what some thought was a prior agreement in favor of the cuts.^[38] In the same vein, while Republican governors in some other states were rejecting portions of the federal stimulus package, Crist spoke in favor of it and for Florida receiving its full share.^[28] In July 2008, as his office and the legislature grappled with a budget deficit estimated at $2.3 billion, Crist and his fiancee made a 12-day trip to Europe that cost taxpayers over $430,000 (not including $30,000 paid by business executives). Crist, who characterised the trip as focused on trade and economic cooperation, cited an agreement closed with Spanish firm Renovalia for energy investment in Florida. While the deal had been shepherded in part by the firms' American attorney, a brother of US Senator Mel Martinez, according to Martinez the negotiations had stalled until Crist's intervention in Spain.^[39][40]

Crist has supported efforts to ban gay marriage in Florida, and has also endorsed a ban on adoption by gay prospective parents, arguing that a "traditional family provides the best environment for children."^{[41][42][43][44][45][46][47]}

He has appointed the majority of the members of the Florida Supreme Court, including conservative and pro-life judges Charles T. Canady (credited with coining the term "partial-birth abortion" while crafting the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act)^[48] and Ricky Polston (whose automobile license plate reads "Choose Life").^[49][50] Crist subsequently appointed two additional justices to the Florida Supreme Court, James E.C. Perry and Jorge Labarga, who have both been described as moderate.^[51][52]

On other issues, Crist has departed from traditional Republican policy positions, particularly on environmental policy, an important issue in Florida. He announced plans to sign executive orders to impose strict air pollution standards in the state, with aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent of the 1990 levels by 2050. Crist's orders would set new emissions targets for power companies, automobiles and trucks, toughen conservation goals for state agencies, and require state-owned vehicles to use alternative fuels.^[53] In his gubernatorial campaign, Crist opposed offshore oil drilling, a position he shared with California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Crist reversed that position in June 2008, when oil reached peak prices, saying "I mean, let's face it, the price of gas has gone through the roof, and Florida families are suffering, and my heart bleeds for them." ^[54][55] Later that month, Crist gave a keynote address at the "Serve to Preserve" Global Climate Change Summit he hosted in Florida. ^[56] At this same June 2008 conference, Schwarzenegger also gave an address and rebuked politicians who suggested drilling in the Gulf of Mexico as a solution to gas prices, stating: "Anyone who tells you this will lower our gas prices anytime soon is blowing smoke."^[57][58] Crist continues to oppose offshore drilling close to the Florida coast, but has advocated research into drilling as far as 10 miles offshore.^[59][60] Continuing in a role of environmental advocacy, in June 2008 Crist proposed that the State of Florida buy 187,000 acres of land for conservation, in a landmark deal with the sugar industry. Crist described the deal "as monumental as our nation's first national park."^[61] Despite a competing offer floated in November 2008 for private acquisition of the land and a decrease in proposed financing from $1.75B to $1.34B, the South Florida Water Board voted 6-1 in favor of a final, downsized deal. The agreement, which still faces legal and financing challenges, would give the state 73,000 acres of sugar and citrus plantations for Everglades restoration projects.^[62][63][64]

Crist was the first Republican governor to accept the state's National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) invitation to a convention, and has been described as the state's "first black governor." Crist endorsed legislation requiring paper records of all ballots cast during an election, stemming from criticism that votes were being undercounted in black communities by computerized voting machines.^[65][66] He has also tackled the state's regulation of the insurance industry, particularly for property (in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina) and health insurance. While new property insurance legislation has proved controversial, particularly the creation of the Citizen's Property Insurance Corp and the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund (both of which have been described as risky and underfunded), the health insurance reform efforts have been well received. Standing next to former football star Dan Marino (whose son, Michael, is autistic and inspired the Dan Marino Foundation^[67]), Crist signed a law expanding health coverage statewide for autism disorders and he has also signed legislation expanding low-income coverage and creating public-private insurance options in the state.^{[68][69][70][71][72][73][74][75][76][77][78]}

[edit] Allegations of Mismanagement

Despite 39 audits dating back to 2000 warning of risky, complex, unregulated investments involving leveraged funds, the SBA lost approximately one-third of the fund ($61.4 billion) between July 2008 and January 2009.^[79] Nineteen of these audits warning of risk were issued while Crist, Sink, and McCollum were in office and functioning as trustees. Governor Crist is the chairman of the SBA.

In May 2008, about five months before the stock market crash, Gov. Crist went to the floor of the New York Stock Exchange to sign a bill allowing the SBA to double its exposure to "alternative investments." Some of the losses included a $682 million investment with Lehman Brothers, which went sour when Lehman Brothers declared bankruptcy on September 15, 2008. The SBA also lost as much as $250 million in real estate deals gone sour in New York City, involving high priced apartment complexes. Other losses occurred with Pinnacle Point, Catapult, and Luminent Star. A November 2007 audit revealed that the SBA had $2.2 billion in shaky securities. News of this leaked out and hundreds of panicked school districts and local government agencies withdrew billions of dollars before a freeze was ordered by the trustees.^[79] As a result of this "crisis of confidence" SBA executive director Coleman Stipanovich resigned his job in December 2007.^[80] By November 2008 the SBA admitted that $2.625 billion was under "financial stress." ^{[81][82][83][84]}

On November 5, 2009, it was publicly revealed that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) had been formally investigating possible fraud by the Florida SBA since July 31, 2008. The investigation centers on whether or not the SBA and three firms, J.P. Morgan, Credit Suisse, and Lehman Brothers "'may have been or may be' involved in a scheme to defraud by making false statements about the risk and liquidity of investments purchased by the local pool and other SBA-managed funds."^[85]

[edit] Political activity

[edit] 2008 presidential election

Senator John McCain played a major role in Crist's 2006 campaign for governor. McCain endorsed Crist and traveled the state campaigning with him. The day before the general election, Crist chose to hold a campaign event with McCain in Jacksonville rather than attend a Pensacola rally with President George W. Bush. A few short months later when the Republican Presidential primary debates were held in St. Petersburg, Crist physically embraced McCain and offered a more tepid welcome to the other presidential candidates. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who had also campaigned for Crist during the gubernatorial election, had hoped to secure his endorsement to support a campaign strategy that relied on winning the Florida primary. ^{[86][87][88][89]}

In May 2007 Crist signed a bill moving the date of Florida's presidential primary to January 29, 2008. Such adjustments of state primary dates, intended to increase the prominence of an individual states' role in the nominating process of the major political process and known as front-loading, are a violation of the primary rules of both major parties. The change prompted the Democratic National Committee to strip Florida (and Michigan, which made a similar change) of its superdelegates and 50 percent of its regular delegates to the Democratic nominating convention, and the Republican National Committee said it would strip 50% of all of the state's delegates.^[90] Crist joined Michigan governor Jennifer Granholm in demanding that their states' delegates be seated. Ultimately, the Democratic National Committee decided to seat all Florida and Michigan delegates while granting each delegate a half vote, and the Republican National Committee came to a similar conclusion.^{[91][92][93][94]}

On January 26, 2008, Crist publicly endorsed McCain in the Republican primary race, saying, "He's a great friend and will do a great job for the United States."^[95] McCain later won the primary by five percentage points, despite being outspent by opponent Mitt Romney. Many credited Crist's endorsement for the win, which gave McCain an advantage going into Super Tuesday.^[96] In May 2008, Crist, along with Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, spent Memorial Day weekend at McCain's Sedona, Arizona home. Although the McCain campaign denied the gathering was an opportunity to consider a vice presidential candidate, several press outlets reported that the invited guests were indeed being considered for the number two spot on the Republican ticket. Three months later, in August 2008, Alaska governor Sarah Palin was chosen by McCain for the position.^[97][98][99]

On October 12, 2008 Crist contradicted McCain campaign statements with regard to voter registration for the presidential general election. The McCain camp stated there was widespread voter registration fraud occurring in various states, including Florida, and community activism group ACORN may be responsible; Crist stated that he believed such reports were "exaggerated" and that he did not have a problem with the voter registration group known as ACORN as it operates in the state of Florida.^[100][101] These contradictions led the press to question if there were problems between the McCain campaign and the Republican leadership in Florida. Some members of the press directly asked Crist if he would be campaigning with McCain in Florida. On October 14, 2008, Crist indicated that his primary responsibilities lay with the people of Florida, saying, "When I have time to help out my friend [McCain] I'm eager and anxious to do so."^[102] He did go on to participate in several campaign rallies several days later.^[103] On October 19, 2008 there were press reports of widespread rifts between the McCain camp and Florida Republican party leadership, though none of animosity specifically between Crist and McCain. ^[104]

On October 28, 2008 Crist extended early voting hours of operation and declared that a "state of emergency exists" due to record voter turnout and resultant hours-long waits at locations throughout the state.^[105] Some Republican operatives were disappointed with the decision, including one anonymous source who said "He just blew Florida for John McCain."^[106][107] Various media outlets and observers speculated that Crist made the decision out of vindictiveness toward McCain for snubbing him for the vice presidential position, or to position himself for re-election in 2010. Other journalists documented the lines of elderly and minority voters waiting in line for hours in bad weather. Crist emphatically stated that it was "not a political decision. It's a people decision."^[108][109]

On October 29 and October 31, 2008, Crist made several appearances on MSNBC's Morning Joe in which he told former Florida congressman Joe Scarborough that the race was tightening in Florida.^[110][111] However, Crist abruptly left a poorly-attended McCain rally in Tampa on the last day of the race and was a no-show at previously scheduled interviews that were to take place after the rally, according to Ed Henry, reporter for CNN.^[112]

[edit] Republican Governors Association meeting in Miami

On November 12-14, 2008, Crist hosted the Republican Governors Association (RGA) annual meeting in Miami. After the resounding Democratic Party win in the 2008 election^[113], there was widespread speculation about the tone of the Republican Governors meeting. Republican Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin was a featured participant and speaker. She held her first press conference since joining the McCain ticket at the post-election RGA meeting, and received the majority of media coverage. Several Republican Governors made anonymous comments to CNN reporter Dana Bash about their disapproval of how Palin's participation in the conference was handled.^[114][115] Crist spoke about this at length in an interview with Joe Scarborough^[116]

Crist's speech at the RGA conference entitled "Listen to the Voters and Serve" included his sentiments on how the GOP should evolve:

“

This party can no longer hope to reach Hispanics, African-Americans and other minority groups — we need to just do it. Embracing cultures and lifestyles will make us a better party and better leaders. This desire for inclusiveness is near and dear to my heart.... Last week, the American people made a choice and this week, if we choose to call ourselves leaders, if we truly endeavor to serve with a servant's heart for the people who count on us, then we too must work together, listen to one another and learn from the leaders who made the kind of history the American people deserve.[117]

”

Crist also held a joint interview with Governor Mark Sanford of South Carolina and they discussed the split in the Republican Party over where to direct the party's next efforts to gain more voters. ^[118]

[edit] Outrage documentary

In April 2009, Crist was one of the subjects of Kirby Dick's documentary Outrage, a Tribeca Film Festival feature about politicians who the film claims are "closeted" and vote against gay rights. This led to a public debate about Crist's sexual orientation, right to privacy and the political ramifications of the claims for future elections.^{[119][120][121][122][123][124]}

[edit] 2010 Senate candidate

Crist announced May 12, 2009 that he will not run for re-election as governor and will instead run for the US Senate in 2010. Some opponents in the senate race include fellow Republican Marco Rubio^[125][126] and Democrat Kendrick Meek.^[127] During the 2008 election, Crist was also mentioned as a potential 2012 presidential candidate.^[128]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Florida Governor Charlie Crist official state site
• Charlie Crist official campaign site

• Biography at the National Governors Association
• Campaign contributions at Follow the Money
• Biography, interest group ratings, public statements, vetoes and campaign finances at Project Vote Smart
• Issue positions and quotes at On The Issues
• Collected news and commentary at The New York Times
• Collected news and commentary at The Washington Post
• "CharlieCristFL YouTube Channel"
• Video with Charlie Crist, WEDU, 30-minute interview
• Dinner with Charlie, Ray and Jeff: 'We work as a team', Miami Herald, November 17, 2008
• Jennifer Santiago One on One Interview with Crist and Tour of Governor's Mansion

Legal offices
Preceded by Richard Doran	Florida Attorney General 2003 – 2007	Succeeded by Bill McCollum
Political offices
Preceded by Tom Gallagher	Florida Education Commissioner 2001 – 2003	Succeeded by Jim Horne
Preceded by Jeb Bush	Governor of Florida 2007 – present	Incumbent
Party political offices
Preceded by James W. Grant	Republican Party nominee for United States Senator from Florida (class 3) 1998 (lost)	Succeeded by Mel Martinez
Preceded by David H. Bludworth	Republican Party nominee for Florida Attorney General 2002 (won)	Succeeded by Bill McCollum
Preceded by Jeb Bush	Republican Party nominee for Governor of Florida 2006 (won)	Succeeded by Most recent

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v • d • e Current statewide political officials of Florida U.S. Senators Bill Nelson · George LeMieux State government Charlie Crist, Governor · Jeff Kottkamp, Lieutenant Governor · Alex Sink, Chief Financial Officer · Bill McCollum, Attorney General · Charles H. Bronson, Commissioner of Agriculture Senate Jeffrey Atwater, President · Alex Diaz de la Portilla, Majority Leader · Alfred Lawson, Jr., Minority Leader House Larry Cretul, Speaker · Adam Hasner, Majority Leader · Franklin Sands, Minority Leader Supreme Court (appointed) Peggy Quince Chief Justice · Barbara Pariente · R. Fred Lewis · Charles T. Canady · Ricky Polston · Jorge Labarga