He's one tough SOB and is, personality wise, the exact opposite of Rubio.
As a Floridian, I am thrilled to read about this!
My vote was going to be ABR, anybody but Rubio. But now, instead of voting against Rubio, I can actually vote FOR someone else.
I AM SURE GLAD I SWITCHED FROM INDEPENDENT TO REPUBLICAN AND DIDN’T SWITCH BACK OUT AGAIN. Now my vote can help primary Rubio OUT. YEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Had I switched back to Independent, as some at FR were indicating they would do to show their disgust for the RNC, Florida would not allow me as an independent to vote in the Republican Primaries.
I am HAPPY!!!
Shari E. Monetta Beruff has a thirteen year history of bundling massive checks to political candidates and securing government appointments for himself. Contrary to his claims that he's "sick of the status quo in Washington," he's been the guy bankrolling that status quo.
Since 2001, Beruff has given more than one million dollars in political contributions, either directly, through his wife, or through his companies.
Beruff's support for Crist didn't wane when Crist abandoned the Republican Party.
As the Sarasota Herald-Tribune reported on April 22, 2010, "some of [Crist's] biggest GOP donors are vowing to stick with him even if he leaves the party and runs as an independent for the U.S. Senate...Those standing behind Crist include...Bradenton developer Carlos Beruff."
Crist would announce he was running as an independent less than a month later. Beruff never donated to Rubio.
We can find some questionable ties even when Crist was still claiming to be a Republican. The contributions list also shows that Beruff bundled $12,500 to Crist's 2006 gubernatorial campaign (the contribution limit was $500 that year), and an additional $10,000 to "Floridians for Truth and Integrity in Government," an electioneering communications organization (also called ECO, a type of PAC allowed under Florida election law) that was formed to help Crist. In that race, the conservative candidate was then-Florida Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher.
Crist ended up giving Beruff a series of political appointments, including to the Sarasota-Bradenton Airport Authority, the Southwest Florida Water Management Board, and the State College Of Florida Board. These appointed positions can yield powerful local influence, and it's not hard to see why a developer like Beruff would want them. The water management board appointment came in July 2009, just one month after Beruff had maxed out his donation to Crist's Senate campaign.
He seems more of a typical big government establishment type to me. I'd take him over Rubio sure, but who is the real Beruff....