Congressman Kendrick Meek, the leading Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate just released a statement about Charlie Crist's announcement that he was appointing former chief of staff George LeMieux to the Senate seat vacated by Mel Martinez.
From the moment Senator Martinez announced his retirement, Governor Crist placed his ambitions over Florida's needs. Floridians require a Senator working to ease their economic pain and achieve comprehensive health insurance reform, not a political appointee who serves the monied special interests.
The Governor added another edition to his campaign team at taxpayers' expense. George LeMieux doesn't represent Floridians facing economic challenges - he represents privileged clients with expense accounts far removed from the realities Floridians are facing.Meanwhile, Marco Rubio, the former Florida House Speaker trying to beat Crist for the Republican nomination to Senate, remains silent, even on the Twitter page that's been so hilariously candid in the campaign's early days.
Governor Crist was afforded a high responsibility with this appointment. Instead, he treated this process like a mockery, politicizing his selection by flying around the state at taxpayers' expense, touring major media markets and drawing this selection out. Well respected Floridians with a wealth of elected service experience from Congressman Clay Shaw to Mayor John Delaney to various Hispanic leaders were in a position to hit the ground running if appointed, but that possibility is now nonexistent.
By appointing George LeMieux, Governor Crist's inner circle was rewarded with a U.S. Senate seat and Floridians are left lacking the representation they deserve.
