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Florida briefly

By TIMES WIRES
Published September 26, 2006

Some Rod Smith backers say they now support Crist

TALLAHASSEE - Three weeks after the primary election, Alachua state Sen. Rod Smith will join Jim Davis, who defeated him for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, in a unity event today on Smith's turf. But on Monday, Smith's political director, a legislative aide and a longtime supporter of Democratic candidates joined to form a political committee that will tout Republican nominee Charlie Crist.

Smith said he will continue to do events for Davis, but he acknowledged that people with prominent roles in his campaign now support Attorney General Crist. They include political director Todd Wilder and finance director Danny Ponce.

Wilder is working with a committee called Coalition for Bipartisan Progress, which is chaired by James Harris, a lobbyist who has worked with prominent Democrats.

"If it were different times, different candidates, you probably wouldn't hear me talking about this, but the time is what it is and the candidates are who they are and I personally am very comfortable with Crist," Harris said.

Wilder, who was the late Democratic Gov. Lawton Chiles' legislative director, said, "I'm not switching parties ... but I find myself, for once, a little more in line with the moderate Republican."

Florida Marine one of two killed in Iraq operation

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - Two Marines based at Camp Lejeune died while conducting combat operations in the Anbar province of Iraq, the Defense Department said Monday. One was from Florida.

Lance Cpl. Rene Martinez, 20, of Miami, and Lance Cpl. Howard S. March Jr., 20, of Buffalo, N.Y., were killed Sunday, the Pentagon said.

Both were assigned to the 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force.

Motorcycle shop owner charged in biker's death

ORLANDO - A motorcycle shop owner who has appeared on the Discovery Channel's Biker Build-Off was charged Monday with drunken-driving manslaughter in the traffic death of a biker.

William "Billy" Lane, 36, Lane, owner of Choppers Inc. in Melbourne, tried to pass two cars Sept. 4 in his pickup despite a double yellow line, the Florida Highway Patrol said. He struck and killed a motorcycle rider, Gerald Morelock, 56, of Melbourne Beach.

The tattooed, dreadlocked Lane has gained acclaim building custom motorcycles, writing two books on the subject and appearing on several television shows, including Biker Build-Off and Monster Garage.

Tot dies after drinking chemicals from soda bottle

LAKELAND - A 2-year-old girl died after drinking poisonous chemicals her father had left in a soda bottle in the back seat of the family's sport utility vehicle, sheriff's officials said Monday.

Marily Mosso was pronounced dead Saturday night at Lakeland Regional Medical Center.

Her father, Flavio Mosso, works for a Plant City company that installs countertops, and the chemicals are used to clean them.

[Last modified September 26, 2006, 01:01:44]