George LeMieux Picked By Crist To Replace Sen. Mel Martinez
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — 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.
Instead, he picked his closest political adviser – someone who thinks like him and will serve like him until the winner of next year's election takes the oath of office in January 2011.
"I have tremendous trust and confidence in George LeMieux and I know him so well," Crist said just before announcing LeMieux as his pick. "We both love the people. It's them first, and that's why it's George now."
The governor is gambling that the immediate criticism he faces for picking a senator who is a close friend and who has never held elected office will pay off with someone who he believes will be steady and predictable for the next 16 months.
Regardless of Crist's choice, the replacement senator's votes would have been a reflection on Crist from now until election day. Crist doesn't have to guess how LeMieux, 40, will serve. With anyone else, Crist risked being caught by surprise at some point during his campaign.
Crist was immediately criticized by his opponent in next August's Republican primary, former House Speaker Marco Rubio, and by the only major Democrat in the race, U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek. Rubio said the pick was a "disappointment for Florida."
"I don't think there's anyone closer to Charlie Crist's politics, maybe in the world, than George LeMieux," said Rubio, who is running as the conservative alternative to the moderate Crist. Rubio said LeMieux is the wrong person to stand up to President Barack Obama and the Democratic Congress' "radical agenda."
"I'm just disappointed because there were some really good people out there," Rubio said. "There were other people on that list that were more qualified and whose politics were more clearly defined."
Meek said Crist placed his ambition above the state.
"When you're appointing a United States senator, you don't look at the top five on your cell phone," Meek said. "You look at someone that has a track record of elected public service, someone that Floridians are familiar with. This gentleman that he's appointed is an insider."
LeMieux served as deputy attorney general under Crist and ran Crist's 2006 campaign for governor. Once elected, Crist chose LeMieux as his chief of staff. LeMieux left the job at the end of 2007 and returned to the statewide law firm Gunster, where he serves as chairman.
The firm billed the state Department of Transportation nearly $3 million in the fiscal year that ended in June, up nearly $2 million from the previous fiscal year. The fiscal year before LeMieux became chairman of the firm, it received no state payments, according to the state Department of Financial Services. The year before that, it earned more than $4.4 million in state business.
Reaction to the Republican governor's pick didn't fall on straight political lines. Some Republicans praised it, some criticized it. Same with Democrats.
"I am concerned by Governor Crist's selection for the U.S. Senate seat today, which appears to serve as a placeholder for the governor, rather than serving the people of Florida as their U.S. senator," said Republican Rep. Cliff Stearns.
But Democratic Rep. Robert Wexler, the self-described "fire-breathing liberal," said LeMieux will be an excellent senator.
"Governor Crist has reached out to a man I have come to know and respect a great deal. I worked closely with George on the issue of establishing a paper trail for Florida voting machines, as well as other issues, and always found him to be a man of great integrity and intelligence," Wexler said.
Martinez announced in December he wouldn't seek a second term and said earlier this month he would leave office early. Martinez is expected to make a final floor speech Sept. 9.
Minutes before Crist introduced LeMieux in the Senate chamber of Florida's old Capitol, the two men stared out a window in another room of the historic building. Crist quietly gave LeMieux best wishes before facing the media.
"I had a good chat with Mel this morning. He's doing well," Crist said to LeMieux, who responded, "Good. He's a great man. Big shoes to fill."
Moments later, LeMieux said, "It's just sinking in and I think what an honor it is, and what a privilege it is and what a responsibility it is."
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BRENDAN FARRINGTON | 08/28/09 05:57 PM |