Charlie Crist sworn in as state's 44th governor

Tuesday, January 2, 2007

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Charlie Crist was sworn in as Florida's 44th governor Tuesday.

Charlie Crist was sworn in at noon Tuesday as Florida's 44th governor.

Crist, a Republican, defeated Democrat Jim Davis in the November election.

Crist's election marks the first time in the state's history a Republican will follow a Republican in the governor's office.

Crist declined to discuss details of his speech, but he said anyone searching for clues should listen to what he said on election night.

"I ran for governor for you and I will go to work every day with the understanding that you are the boss," Crist said at the Renaissance Vinoy hotel in St. Petersburg on Nov. 7. "I want you to know that we've got an aggressive and far-reaching plan to lower your taxes and cut your insurance costs."

The 50-year-old Crist, who has been state attorney general for the past four years, is the first governor from St. Petersburg. He also is the first bachelor to hold the office since Claude Kirk in 1967.

Sharing the stage with Crist were his parents, Dr. Charles and Nancy Crist, his three sisters and other family members. The Rev. H. Clark Edwards, pastor of Crist's church, First United Methodist Church in St. Petersburg, delivered the invocation.

Mel Martinez, the state's junior U.S. Senator and the new chairman of the Republican National Committee, was master of ceremonies.

Watch The Inaugurations

Crist's inauguration, as well as the swearing-in ceremonies of the other office holders, can be seen in its entirety on Bay News 9 on Demand, channel 342 on Bright House Networks.

Also taking oaths of office today will be Lieutenant Governor Jeff Kottkamp and two new Cabinet officers, Attorney General Bill McCollum, a Republican, and Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, a Democrat. The lone holdover on the Cabinet, who also will be sworn in for another four-year term, is Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson, a Republican.

Florida is one of three states required under its Constitution to swear in a governor and other statewide officials today, even though President Bush has declared a national day of mourning in memory of former President Gerald Ford, who died last week. Other states inaugurating governors today are Minnesota and Rhode Island.

Florida's inaugural was preceded by a prayer breakfast at Florida A&M University and will be followed by a parade, street fair and open house at the Governor's Mansion. All events were free, paid for with private donations.

Crist's inaugural committee has reported more than $600,000 in donations so far.

A planned inaugural ball at the Tallahassee Civic Center was canceled by Crist in early December after even supporters questioned why Crist's inaugural committee had been soliciting private donations of up to $500,000.

Stung by the criticism, Crist quickly labeled the big-bucks event a mistake and imposed a ceiling of $10,000 on donations.

Charlie Crist Timeline

Personal life
Crist was born on July 24, 1956 in Altoona, Pennsylvania. His parents are Charlie Sr., a Greek Cypriot, and Nancy (Lee), who is Scotch-Irish.

Crist later moved to St. Petersburg, where he attended St. Petersburg High School. He went on to attend Wake Forest University, where he played quarterback, but received his undergraduate degree from Florida State University. Crist received his law degree degree from the Cumberland School of Law in Alabama.

As a tribute to his former school, St. Petersburg High's band will perform at his inauguration.

Crist is currently single.

Career

Crist played quarterback at St. Petersburg High.

Crist entered state politics representing parts of St. Petersburg 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 Democrat Bob Graham for his U.S. Senate seat but lost by 26 percent. In 1999, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush appointed Crist to the position of Deputy Secretary of the Department 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, where he served from 2001 until 2003, when the office was eliminated in accordance with a 1998 constitutional amendment, and all responsibilities turned over to the appointed Secretary of Education. Crist had by that time already won the attorney general's position.

During his time in office, Crist has been applauded by civil rights and consumer groups for expanding the powers of the Attorney General to prosecute civil rights and fraud cases. He has also received acclaim for his work to combat SPAM emails, freeze utility rates, end telecom deception and protect the environment. He has also come down on businesses who have price gouged consumers following hurricanes.

More Information

Crist's Inauguration Speech
More Crist Stories
Gov. Bush's Eight Years In Office
Florida's Governors
View Inauguration In Its Entirety On Bay News 9 On Demand, Channel 342.

Some activists who had pushed for government intervention in the Terri Schiavo case strongly criticized Crist when he did not attempt further legal action to keep Schiavo alive, or use his powers to investigate her missing Department of Children and Families file.

"America's Most Wanted" host John Walsh supported Crist's candidacy and publicly filed Crist's gubernatorial candidacy paperwork, citing his work with the Center for Missing and Exploited Children. John Walsh also appears in Crist's "anti-murder" campaign advertisements.

The 2006 gubernatorial race
Crist consistently led Democratic opponent Jim Davis in statewide opinion polling during the fall of 2006. Crist opted to skip a scheduled appearance with President Bush Nov. 6 at a Panhandle rally, saying that the area was already firmly in his camp. Davis accused Crist of trying to avoid being associated with the unpopular Chief Executive.

Crist's platform

According to his campaign web site and public pronouncements, Crist would take the following positions as governor:

Abortion: Is "pro-life and pro-family," however, he has no plans to change abortion law in the state of Florida, stating in the August 21, 2006 issue of The Tampa Tribune that "I'd rather change people's hearts than change the law." However, Crist also said months earlier that he would, if elected governor, sign a ban on abortion like the one in South Dakota

Adoption: Provide a $3,000 subsidy to adoptive families. Crist has not yet decided if he would repeal the ban on adoption by same-sex couples.

Death Penalty: Defends the current law allowing non-unanimous juries to recommend the death penalty.

Education: Continue to be an advocate for parent choice in education, including stringent testing and vouchers. Crist encourages standardized testing "to guarantee that each student receives a year's worth of learning in a year's worth of time."

Eminent Domain: Strengthen current legal protections. Crist has stated that he believes the Kelo decision could have negative ramifications for Floridians.

Environment: Supports ban on oil drilling near Florida's coastline. Continue the net "ban" (limits on allowable size) aimed at protecting aquatic wildlife.

Foster Care: Provide a $5,000 subsidy to those providing foster care to families who adopt foster children.

Gay Rights: Crist's web site says Crist strongly supports Florida's Defense of Marriage Act which is generally opposed by gays and lesbians. Crist's primary opponent, Tom Gallagher, claimed Crist supports gay civil unions and Crist was a signatory to the gay marriage amendment petition in Florida.

Gun Rights: Balance gun owner rights with private property rights of employers. Crist has been endorsed by the NRA as a, "A+" candidate on gun rights. A+ is the highest endorsement given out by the NRA.

Hate Crimes: Stop the "clear pattern of growth" in crimes motivated by sexual orientation.

Health Care: Require prescription drugs to be tracked from the manufacturer to the pharmacy to ensure drug safety. Endorsed by the Florida Doctors Association and the Florida Nurses Association.

Homeowners Insurance: Provide affordable reinsurance. Report Card for Insurance Companies. Stop the "cherry picking" by Insurance Companies for the type of cover they will provide. Abolition of Citizens insurance.

Immigration: Supports closing borders for illegals and policies that promote legal immigration. Supports Senator Mel Martinez's immigration bill giving amnesty to illegals.

Legalized Gambling: Opposes any expansion of gambling, but does not support the repeal of the Broward County slot machine amendment.

Lawsuit Reform: Supports elimination of joint and several liability.

Property Tax: Allow homeowners to move within the same county and between different counties while maintaining their previous property tax level.

Right to Die: Promote the availability of end of life choices, including living wills and coordination with hospice care.

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