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Politics

Ex-comptroller crosses party line to endorse Sink

By A LISA U LFERTS
Published September 8, 2006

Bob Milligan rarely lets party affiliation dictate his decisions.

That held true Thursday, when the former state comptroller and prominent Republican crossed party lines and endorsed Democrat Alex Sink in the race for chief financial officer.

Sink, whom Democratic strategists think is their party's best shot at winning a Cabinet seat, faces Republican Senate President Tom Lee in the Nov. 7 general election.

"There is no doubt in my mind that with her 25 years of financial leadership, Alex Sink is the most qualified candidate to be Florida's next chief financial officer," said Milligan, a retired three-star Marine general. "I'd rather have an experienced banker and businesswoman watching over my money than a politician any day."

Sink said Milligan was one of the first people she called more than a year ago when she first began considering a run for CFO.

"When I called him," she said, "he was just so encouraging."

Milligan's endorsement is a significant coup for Sink. While his name isn't well known outside state Capitol circles, his credentials as former comptroller - and the respect he has among Republicans - nonetheless adds heft to Sink's fight against Lee, who has the endorsement of popular Gov. Jeb Bush.

Milligan served as comptroller from 1994 to 2002, when the duties of the separate Cabinet positions of comptroller and treasurer were combined into the CFO position. He had a large hand in shaping the office of CFO, even doing public battle with then-Treasurer Tom Gallagher as state lawmakers decided how banks and insurance would be regulated once the new chief financial officer post was created. Milligan's view - that both should be under the Cabinet - eventually prevailed.

While comptroller, he appointed Sink to a state oversight board that was recommending changes to the state's pension program.

"I don't think Tom Lee is unqualified. I just don't think we need a career politician in there," Milligan said.

Milligan's endorsement of Sink came on the same day Bush rounded up Republicans for a postprimary "unity tour."

"Bob Milligan has been marching to a different beat for a long time," Bush said at a unity tour stop in Orlando. "Tom Lee is significantly better and more able to take on that job than Alex."

Times staff writer Joni James contributed to this report.

[Last modified September 8, 2006, 07:14:01]