Charlie Crist

From Freepedia

Charlie Crist has been the Attorney General of Florida since 2003, and is currently a candidate for the Republican nomination for Governor of Florida.

Crist entered state politics representing the Tampa Bay area in the Florida Senate, where he became best known for his support of chain gangs for state prison inmates, earning him the nickname "Chain Gang Charlie." He became well-known in state politics in 1998, when after nearly six years in the Senate, he challenged popular incumbent US Senator Bob Graham for his seat, but lost by a margin of around 26%. Following this loss, in 1999 he was appointed by Governor Jeb Bush as Deputy Secretary of the Deparment of Business and Professional Regulation. He then ran for and was elected to the office of Education Commissioner of Florida in the November 2000 election, in which capacity he served from 2001 until 2003, when the office was eliminated in accordance with a 1998 constitutional amendment, and all responsibilites turned over to the appointed Secretary of Education. Crist, however, had by that time already won the attorney general's position.

In May 2005 Crist announced his candidacy to succeed Bush in the 2006 Florida gubernatorial election.

Crist's qualifications to be attorney general were challenged during the 2002 election, when it was revealed that he had failed the state bar exam three times before passing. The attorney general, often described as the state's "top lawyer," is required by the state constitution to have passed the bar. Crist has been applauded by civil rights and consumer groups for expanding the powers of the Attorney General during his time in office to prosecute civil rights and fraud cases. He has also received awards from environmental groups for his actions as a legislator and member of the Florida Cabinet.

Crist is a native of St. Petersburg, Florida, where he attended St. Petersburg High School. During his time in state politics he has remained visible in hometown. He went on to attend Wake Forest University, where he played quarterback, but received his undergraduate degree from Florida State University. He received his Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from the Cumberland School of Law in Alabama. While there has been a great deal of speculation regarding the divorced Crist's sexual preference, he has now stated repeatedly that he is not homosexual.

Sources

[1] Official attorney general bio.

[2] Morgan, Lucy (May 21, 2005). "Lobbyists Warily Pick Horses in 2006 Race." St. Petersburg Times, pp. 1B.

[3] Ulferts, Alisa (Sept. 7, 2002). "Passing the Bar a Bear for Some." St. Petersburg Times, pp. 1B.

[4] Morgan, Lucy (May 9, 2005). "Crist Will Enter Governor's Race." St. Petersburg Times, pp. 1A.

[5] 1998 U.S. Senate race results.