Six months before Election Day, the Republican Party of Florida has had a staff shakeup resulting in the sudden departure of the party's executive director.
Geoffrey Becker, executive director for political affairs, resigned Friday. Neither he nor party officials would discuss the reason. Becker likely will continue working with the Florida GOP, probably as a consultant.
"Mr. Becker has been and continues to be a valuable member of the Republican team, and we look forward to continuing this relationship with him, albeit in a different capacity," said director of communications Joseph Agostoni.
Moving up to the executive director post is Stephen Shiver, who had been deputy director of political affairs and previously worked in the state House majority office.
Man sentenced to life for killing parents
SARASOTA - A man convicted of robbing and killing his parents in the garage of their home two years ago was sentenced to life in prison Tuesday.
Circuit Judge Andrew Owens upheld a jury's recommendation for Errol Watts, sparing him from the death penalty.
Watts, 34, was found guilty this month in the Aug. 25, 2002 murders of longtime educators Mary and Earl Watts, both 64, as they returned from a weekend golf trip. Prosecutors said Watts had been selling his parents' possessions to buy crack cocaine.
Arrested senator wanted only to meet with sheriff
ORLANDO - A state senator suspected of drunk driving asked repeatedly to talk with the local sheriff and refused to answer officers' requests that he take a breath-alcohol test, according to a videotaped recording.
Lee Constantine, R-Altamonte Springs, was arrested early May 9 after a Maitland police officer saw his vehicle weaving, stopped him and smelled alcohol on his breath.
In a four-minute videotaped session at Orange County's DUI test center, a despondent Constantine asked 10 times to speak with Sheriff Kevin Beary. "I would like to talk to Kevin Beary first," Constantine, 51, said when told his license would be suspended for a year if he refused to submit to the test. "I don't believe that I was impaired and I'd like to talk to Kevin Beary."
"That's not an option at this time," one of the officers told him.
Constantine never did submit to a Breathalyzer test. He was later released on $500 bail.
