Posted on 07/21/2006 1:06:28 PM PDT by NonValueAdded
Join in the discussion about who is best to follow in the big footsteps of Governor Jeb Bush.
Candidates who have qualified (those simply "announced" omitted):
Wilfredo Papa-Roqui Maneiro II, he da man!..........
I like Charlie Crist. He's got a good reputation and no black marks on his record. He's sensible and intelligent. He's got my vote.
Too bad we can't keep Jeb for a 3rd term, but I'm backing Charlie Crist. We need to keep our taxes down and the GOP has done a great job for us in that area. I also like how the GOP deals with our ongoing hurricane problems. I don't trust a dem to govern on any level.
Too bad about Jeb. This is an example of term limits being a bad thing.
Joe, thanks for the ping.
He's a member of the same fraternity, and I think he has a level head which works for me.
He also supports the conservative points on social issues and FL taxation so the first part is just a bonus.
I'm with you but, I'll be paying attention more when the "real campaigning" (and debates) takes place...
Aug 7th - last day to register to vote in the primary.
Aug 21st - early voting begins.
Aug 30th - last day to request absentee ballot to be mailed.
Sep 3rd - early voting ends.
Sep 5th - election day, absentee ballots due by 7PM.
there are other important dates as well but those are the biggies. Check with your supervisor of elections to be sure of special dates, especially if you are overseas.
I don't know much about Crist, but as a 30 year resident of Florida......I have an isue about Gallaghers long term as Treasurer and Insurance commissioner. Insurance Commissioner to be exact. From 1976 when I arrived here ubtil about the last few years Florida was hit by one big hurricane, that being Andrew in 1992. I paid out close to $120,000 in windstorm insurance over those 30 years filed a small claim of $8,000 from Hurricane Georges in 1998. Now that we have had a few active hurricane years that same windstorm insurance has jumped to $13,000 a year.
What the hell did they do with the billions of dollars the collected during the lean years, except to pad the lobbyists and administartive management at the insurance companies.
This situation stinks.
ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION
TALLAHASSEE – Tom Gallagher, Florida’s Chief Financial Officer and a candidate for the Republican nomination for Governor, today announced several initiatives relating to Florida’s public safety.
Following a tour of the Port of Pensacola, Tom Gallagher held a press availability during which he pledged to create a Florida Office of Security and Preparedness, praised Governor Bush and the Florida Legislature for measures taken to strengthen Florida’s port security, and outlined four steps that he would take to reduce illegal immigration.
"Illegal immigration threatens public safety and undermines respect for the rule of law,” said Gallagher. “While we must approach the issue of illegal immigration with compassion, Florida government must do its part to secure our borders and protect the public.”
Gallagher proposed the following steps to fight illegal immigration in Florida:
1. Give Florida law enforcement officers the power to arrest and detain those who have violated federal immigration law. Florida law currently does not allow state and local law enforcement personnel to make warrantless arrests for violations of federal immigration law. This must be changed. State and local police should have the authority to address immigration violations that they come across in the course of their normal duties. For example, if a state or local policeman reasonably believes that a person has violated federal immigration law, Florida law should allow the officer to detain that person and give federal officials the opportunity to take him into custody.
To be clear, state and local law enforcement should not be required to enforce federal immigration law—whether to do so involves their discretion and assessment of how best to use their resources. Nor should state and local officials seek to displace federal officials as the primary enforcers of immigration law. Rather, this proposal is based on the commonsense notion that state and local police should have the full legal authority they need to protect our people and to uphold the rule of law.
2. Expand Florida’s anti-illegal immigration law enforcement partnership with the Department of Homeland Security. Since 2002, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement has participated in a program with the Department of Homeland Security that allows well-trained state and local law enforcement personnel to serve as immigration officers. Under this program, state and local law enforcement work in partnership with federal officials on immigration-related investigations. To date, the program has focused exclusively on immigration investigations that have a connection to domestic security and terrorism. A key success of the program was the March 2005 arrest of six illegal aliens who were performing contract maintenance work at the Crystal River Nuclear Power Plant. One of the workers had already been deported once and had re-entered the country illegally.
A Gallagher Administration would seek to expand this program to address aspects of illegal immigration that don’t necessarily have a clear nexus with terrorism. For example, following the example of similar programs in Alabama and Arizona, Florida’s program would be expanded to combat the use of fraudulent documents by those applying for drivers’ licenses and to verify the immigration status of those who are being processed into our state prisons and county jails.
3. No hiring of illegal aliens by those who contract with the government. Government needs to lead by example. It must not contribute to the problem of illegal immigration by hiring illegal immigrants or by contracting with those who do. State law should require that all public employers and all government contractors participate in the federal electronic work authorization program called “Basic Pilot.” Founded in 1996 and run by the Department of Homeland Security, that program enables employers to verify the employment eligibility of all job applicants.
4. Continue to work with our neighbors in Latin America and the Caribbean to encourage democracy and trade. One of the best things that can be done to stop illegal immigration into our state is to help our Caribbean and Latin American community strengthen their own economies. Through numerous trade missions and outreach, Governor Bush has taken a leadership role in promoting economic ties between Florida and her Latin American neighbors. A Gallagher Administration would build on these efforts and continue them into the future.
Gallagher for Governor Communications
07/21/2006
Businessman v. Trial Lawyer? I'll go with businessman Tom Gallagher. Trial lawyers have enough power. They don't need the whole enchilada.
Senator Bill Nelson did his part to mess up the insurance situation in Florida. He doesn't want anyone to remember.
1. August 22nd Republicans for Governor and 2. August 28th Republicans for Governor.
Gallagher will think on his feet like Jeb does and Crist won't. Crist will be well scripted and will be dodging and weaving.
As Fla AG, he ran a lousy Civil Rights Dept.
Pinellas County's GOP is corrupt to the core. That's where Crist is from. You will get what you vote for - corruption.
I have not made my mind up on who to vote for on Gov...There is things I like about Crist and Gallagher ...I will just have to wait till I have more information on both...My first inclination was to go Crist..Then I got to reading about Gallager..The main thing is to make sure we hold the Govs office...I guess that this will be a good place to get opinions and make a choice....
Please note in your freepmail if you are a FLORIDA VOTER "other". Semi-low volume ping list.
see post 15 re: debate dates (there are two)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.