Fla. governor taps ex-aide to replace US senator

AP ^

[My Favorite Headache]

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Gov. Charlie Crist chose trust and loyalty Friday over Washington experience or potential political gain in choosing former chief of staff George LeMieux to replace Republican U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez.

State Rep. Jennifer Carroll, who was considered for the position, said Crist told her he is choosing LeMieux. LeMieux is Crist's closest political adviser and the governor's pick shows he wants someone who thinks like him to hold the Senate seat Crist hopes to win in the November 2010 election.

As LeMieux said after interviewing for the position: "I'm a Charlie Crist Republican."

[My Favorite Headache]

gag

[My Favorite Headache]

Crist needs to go away and fast. Can not stand this man.

[edge10]

Pretty close to my reaction. Sounds like how Teddy started his Senate career. Put in a steward to hold the seat for you, until you are able to take what is rightfully yours. /s

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

I’m sure he’ll keep the seat warm for Charlie, in more ways than one.

[auboy]

As LeMieux said after interviewing for the position: "I'm a Charlie Crist Republican."

Translation: As LeMieux said after interviewing for the position: "I'm a RINO."

[dawn53]

About George

http://thelemieuxreport.com/about-george

[classified]

Carroll was a Ronald Reagan Conservative Republican. We need to get rid of RHINO Crist and get a true Conservative in the office. Carroll should have been appointed!

[Lexington Green]

RINO Buttboy

[steven33442]

George LeMieux is a RINO’S RINO. When he served as Broward County Head, he refused to defend the Boy Scouts continued status in terms of access to school facilities.

LeMieux said it would be too controversial to defend the Boy Scouts, which discriminate against homosexuals.

George LeMieux is a real zero.

[Surfer Bert]

LeMieux got an A+ from the NRA, not to shabby.

[steven33442]

George LeMieux will be a loyal stooge for Charlie Crist. He is a non-entity on his own.

[blam]

""I'm a Charlie Crist Republican."

Does that mean he's queer?

[My Favorite Headache]

FYI I want you all to read who he passed over for this seat. What an utter scumbag Crist is...he missed an incredible opportunity for the GOP. What a tool he is. Rep. Jennifer Carroll District 13 Republican Councils/Committee Membership Ethics & Elections Committee Vice Chair Business Regulation Committee Finance & Tax Committee Growth Management Committee Select Committee to Investigate the Conduct of Representative Ralph Arza Workgroup on Affordable Housing Biographical Information City of Residence: Fleming Island Occupation: Retired U.S. Navy, Business Owner Spouse: Nolan Carroll, of Miami, Florida Child(ren): Nolan II, Nyckie, Necho Education: St. Leo University, M.B.A.; University of New Mexico, B.A., Political Science Born: August 27, 1959, Port of Spain, Trinidad West Indies Military: Enlisted in the United States Navy in 1979 and served for 20 years. Served as a jet mechanic and worked her way up through the ranks to retire as a Lieutenant Commander Aviation Maintenance Officer; Meritorious Service Medal; two Navy Commendation Medals; two Navy Achievement Medals; National Defense Service Medal; Overseas Ribbon; two Coast Guard Special Operation Ribbons; Expert Pistol Medal Moved to Florida: 1986 Religious Affiliation: Christian Recreational Interest: stained glass creation, traveling Legislative Service Elected to the House May 13, 2003, reelected subsequently First Black Female Republican elected to the Florida Legislature Appointed Deputy Majority Leader by Speaker Johnnie Byrd 2003-2004 Majority Whip 2004-2006 Other Public Service Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs, Executive Director Mayor's Commission on the Status of Women Northeast Florida Regional Planning Council Presidential Scholars Commission Veterans' Disability Benefits Commission Affiliations Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. American Legion Post 0197, Lifetime Member Dye-Clay YMCA of Clay County, Board Member Clay County Republican Executive Committee Federated Republican Women of Clay County Federated Republican Women of Duval County, Dual Member Fleet Reserve Association Post 128, Member NAACP, Lifetime Member NRA, Lifetime Member Orange Park Rotary, Honorary Member Paul Harris Fellow Unified Sportsmen of Florida Highlights Black Political Action Committee's 2005 Vikki Buckley Political Leadership Award Orange Park Rotary Club Citizen of the Year Award 2005 Northeast Florida Realtors Association "Legislator of the Year" 2004 Republican Club of Clay County, "Top 10" Republican Award 1999, 2002 Center for New Black Leadership, Excellence in Leadership Award 2001 Appointed by President George W. Bush to "The White House Presidential Scholars Commission" 2001-2004 Appointed by President George W. Bush to the Veterans' Disability Benefits Commission, 2004-2007 Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs, Former Executive Director: was responsible for the claims and benefits of over 1.8 million veterans. In fiscal year 2001, under her leadership, more than $63 million in retroactive compensation was awarded to Florida veterans. She was also responsible for the agency's $30 million budget, legislation, three state nursing homes, and one domiciliary home. As a former registered lobbyist in the State of Florida, she lobbied for the retention of state construction funds for the Bay and Charlotte County State Veterans' Nursing Homes and led the generation of two federal matching grant applications that resulted in $15 million of federal funds for these projects. First Coast African American Women Award 1998 Leadership Jacksonville Class of '97 Project Blue Print Class of '97, graduate Clay County Chamber of Commerce, Military Person of the Year 1996 YMCA Black Achievers Award 1996 Clay County Young Republican Club "One of Clay's Most Influential People" Florida's Council on Homelessness, former Chairperson: she sought ways for Florida to provide enhanced services toward solving homeless problems in the state and particularly within the veterans' community.

[RicocheT]

Florida voters, PLEASE pick a real conservative in the coming primary for this US Senate seat. The USA needs an honest to gosh conservative from Florida in the Senate to move us back to the Republic the founding fathers established with the Constitution. No RINOS.

[steven33442]

Crist wanted someone to keep the Senate seat warm for him, and that is understandible. But George LeMieux has no real qualifications besides dog-like loyalty to Charlie Crist.

I noticed that also to be the case with George W. Bush’s political appointments.

[musicman]

From the article:

"As LeMieux said after interviewing for the position: "I'm a Charlie Crist Republican." "

With a cocked and loaded gun at my head, I couldn't have picked this guy out of a lineup, until he described himself.

Now I'd bet I would have NO problem picking him and his buddy Charlie out in a crowd.....

[My Favorite Headache]

Ugh it should not have been formatted out that way...I apologize. http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/FileStores/Web/Imaging/Member/4331.jpg Rep. Jennifer Carroll District 13 Republican Councils/Committee Membership Ethics & Elections Committee Vice Chair Business Regulation Committee Finance & Tax Committee Growth Management Committee Select Committee to Investigate the Conduct of Representative Ralph Arza Workgroup on Affordable Housing

Biographical Information

City of Residence: Fleming Island Occupation: Retired U.S. Navy, Business Owner Spouse: Nolan Carroll, of Miami, Florida Child(ren): Nolan II, Nyckie, Necho Education: St. Leo University, M.B.A.; University of New Mexico, B.A., Political Science Born: August 27, 1959, Port of Spain, Trinidad West Indies

Military: Enlisted in the United States Navy in 1979 and served for 20 years. Served as a jet mechanic and worked her way up through the ranks to retire as a Lieutenant Commander Aviation Maintenance Officer; Meritorious Service Medal; two Navy Commendation Medals; two Navy Achievement Medals; National Defense Service Medal; Overseas Ribbon; two Coast Guard Special Operation Ribbons; Expert Pistol Medal

Moved to Florida: 1986 Religious Affiliation: Christian Recreational Interest: stained glass creation, traveling

Legislative Service

Elected to the House May 13, 2003, reelected subsequently First Black Female Republican elected to the Florida Legislature Appointed Deputy Majority Leader by Speaker Johnnie Byrd 2003-2004 Majority Whip 2004-2006

Other Public Service

Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs, Executive Director Mayor's Commission on the Status of Women Northeast Florida Regional Planning Council Presidential Scholars Commission Veterans' Disability Benefits Commission

Affiliations

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. American Legion Post 0197, Lifetime Member Dye-Clay YMCA of Clay County, Board Member Clay County Republican Executive Committee Federated Republican Women of Clay County Federated Republican Women of Duval County, Dual Member Fleet Reserve Association Post 128, Member NAACP, Lifetime Member NRA, Lifetime Member Orange Park Rotary, Honorary Member Paul Harris Fellow Unified Sportsmen of Florida

Highlights Black Political Action Committee's 2005 Vikki Buckley Political Leadership Award Orange Park Rotary Club Citizen of the Year Award 2005 Northeast Florida Realtors Association "Legislator of the Year" 2004 Republican Club of Clay County, "Top 10" Republican Award 1999, 2002 Center for New Black Leadership, Excellence in Leadership Award 2001 Appointed by President George W. Bush to "The White House Presidential Scholars Commission" 2001-2004 Appointed by President George W. Bush to the Veterans' Disability Benefits Commission, 2004-2007 Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs, Former Executive Director: was responsible for the claims and benefits of over 1.8 million veterans. In fiscal year 2001, under her leadership, more than $63 million in retroactive compensation was awarded to Florida veterans. She was also responsible for the agency's $30 million budget, legislation, three state nursing homes, and one domiciliary home. As a former registered lobbyist in the State of Florida, she lobbied for the retention of state construction funds for the Bay and Charlotte County State Veterans' Nursing Homes and led the generation of two federal matching grant applications that resulted in $15 million of federal funds for these projects. First Coast African American Women Award 1998 Leadership Jacksonville Class of '97 Project Blue Print Class of '97, graduate Clay County Chamber of Commerce, Military Person of the Year 1996 YMCA Black Achievers Award 1996 Clay County Young Republican Club "One of Clay's Most Influential People" Florida's Council on Homelessness, former Chairperson: she sought ways for Florida to provide enhanced services toward solving homeless problems in the state and particularly within the veterans' community.

[ExSoldier]

LeMieux got an A+ from the NRA, not to shabby.

That's better than Martinez ever deserved. Charlie tends to waffle on the gun issue, but he's been pretty good for Florida in that respect. Mainly because good old Marion Hammer would march right up the State House Steps and knock his teeth down his throat if he tried any funny business. He'll be better (able to inflict lerss damage) serving as one of one hundred in the Senate rather than Chief Executive of a state. I know that to get the job, LeMieux had to agree to step aside and endorse Charlie to take his seat. I'd rather have Marco Rubio in there.

[MissesBush]

Crist should have picked Ms. Carroll and then left her in that seat. To have a black, Republican female Senator representing Florida would have been ground-breaking—and it would have set her up nicely to run for president in the coming decade. But Crist I guess is making this all about himself, rather than about what’s good for the party.

[Servant of the Cross]

Appoints his ex chief-of-staff?! Further proof (not needed) it should be RUBIO in FL.