Miami Herald: LeMieux must show loyalty to Florida

Sep 1, 2009

Sept. 1, 2009 — Herald/Times Tallahassee Bureau TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Charlie Crist chose his campaign “maestro,” closest friend and top advisor, George LeMieux, to fill a highly coveted seat in the U.S. Senate that the governor hopes to win next year.

By choosing his former chief of staff as a Senate fill-in Friday, Crist picked personal loyalty over the potential perception of cronyism, a charge opponents quickly leveled and that Crist dismissed as meaningless. By choosing his former chief of staff as a Senate fill-in Friday, Crist picked personal loyalty over the potential perception of cronyism, a charge opponents quickly leveled and that Crist dismissed as meaningless. “I know his soul,” Crist said. ??I am not only happy for my friend, I am happy for my state, because I know the kind of pub- lic servant he is and will be.”

Gov. Charlie Crist chose his political shadow and former chief of staff, George LeMieux, to stand in as Florida’s U.S. senator until Crist can seek the seat himself in the 2010 election.

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 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.

Gov. Charlie Crist has chosen his political shadow and former chief of staff, George LeMieux, to stand in as Florida’s U.S. senator until Crist can seek 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 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.

The follow are comments on Gov. Charlie Crist’s selection of former chief of staff George LeMieux to serve the remainder of Sen. Mel Martinez term.:

“I have known George LeMieux for many years and hold him in great respect. I look forward to welcoming him to Congress and to the Florida congressional delegation, and to working closely with him in the critical months ahead.” – Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., who was considered for the appointment before removing his name from consideration.

Gov. Charlie Crist is giving Florida a preview of what he’d be like as a senator by picking his former chief of staff to fill the remainder of Republican Sen. Mel Martinez’ first term.

Crist was placed in the thorny position of having to replace Martinez while at the same time running for his seat, meaning his pick would be given intense political scrutiny.

Crist could have opted for experience, choosing one of three former congressmen on the final list of nine potential appointees. He also had candidates who could have appealed to party conservatives, black voters, women or Hispanics.

By selecting George LeMieux, his former chief of staff and past campaign manager to serve as senator, the governor picked a loyal bench-warmer and seasoned GOP operative while Mr. Crist runs for the same Washington job. How convenient.

Mr. Crist displayed a total disregard for more experienced former and current members of Congress and legislators — and other qualified candidates with no U.S. Senate ambitions — who could have stepped in without a hitch. It was a predictable pick by a governor who has lost touch with many Floridians and has backtracked on some of his moderate positions.

At least Mr. LeMieux, who served as Broward Republican Party chief from 2000 to 2002, gets high marks from Democrats like Bob Butterworth for his knowledge of Florida issues. But with monumental challenges facing Florida and the nation — from healthcare reform in a state with a high percentage of elderly and poor to protection of the Gulf from oil drilling too close to Florida’s coastline — Mr. LeMieux will have to move beyond partisan responses to work on solutions in a bipartisan fashion. Mr. Martinez sought to do that on immigration reform and oil drilling. Can Mr. LeMieux?

Or will solutions be dictated by Mr. Crist, who has been steering far right as he battles in the GOP primary against former House Speaker Marco Rubio?

What about the Everglades deal and Mr. LeMieux’s law firm’s representation of U.S. Sugar at a time when the federal loan program for sugar is once again being questioned in Congress? Mr. LeMieux has resigned as chairman of Gunster, Yoakley & Stewart, as he must to serve in the Senate, but Floridians are right to be concerned about potential conflicts.

Mr. LeMieux promises to look out for Florida’s best interests. Good. Putting sound policy before bad politics would be best for all Floridians. is pleased to provide this opportunity to share information, experiences and observations about what’s in the news. Some of the comments may be reprinted elsewhere in the site or in the newspaper. We encourage lively, open debate on the issues of the day, and ask that you refrain from profanity, hate speech, personal comments and remarks that are off point. In order to post comments, you must be a registered user of MiamiHerald.com. Your username will show along with the comments you post. Thank you for taking the time to offer your thoughts. @Nyx.replyAnswerText@OUR OPINION: Gov. Crist’s selection of his friend for Senate disappoints