TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Gov. Charlie Crist is giving Florida a preview of what he would be like as a senator by picking his former chief of staff George LeMieux to fill the remainder of Republican Sen. Mel Martinez’s 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 Latinos.
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 thinks will be steady and predictable for the next 16 months.
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.
“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.”
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.
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.”
