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Politics

Browning to join Crist's team

By DAVID DeCAMP
Published December 15, 2006

After "thinking, talking and praying" for a week, Pasco Supervisor of Elections Kurt Browning took his step onto the statewide stage after a cell phone call Tuesday afternoon.

Browning accepted Gov.-elect Charlie Crist's offer to be secretary of state, leaving behind high expectations for whoever succeeds him in Pasco.

Still, he's looking at his new post as a short-term assignment. He'll keep his Dade City home and find an apartment in Tallahassee.

"They contacted me. I never contacted the governor's office about my job," Browning said. "Pasco is my home. This is what I call a temporary assignment, a four-year assignment."

Browning, a Dade City native, made his career running the office - and did it without making waves, even as contested elections roiled his counterparts elsewhere.

Browning began working at the Pasco elections office part-time as a high school student, before he could even vote. He won the supervisor post in 1980 at age 22, making him the state's youngest supervisor of elections. From there, he never lost.

The county grew and so did the voter rolls, but he stayed a hometown boy.

Browning ran elections fairly and accurately, agreed local Republican Party Chairman Bill Bunting and Democratic Party Chairwoman Alison Morano.

In November, the close race between Allen Altman and Cathi Compton for School Board required a recount. But no one questioned Browning when Altman won by 168 votes, even though Altman is Browning's good friend and neighbor.

"His count was right," Bunting said. "That's why you didn't see any lawsuits."

Then last week, Crist's transition team came calling. Browning said he quietly met with Crist and Lt. Gov.-elect Jeff Kottkamp on Monday. Browning thought about the election office, its staff, his friends and his church - things that might keep him from leaving, Altman said.

They couldn't. Tuesday evening, he hustled to Tallahassee for Wednesday morning's news conference. He decided now was the opportune time to move up in politics, at age 48, with his two sons moving through college.

Crist will appoint Browning's successor because the next election for supervisor is two years away. Crist's transition team is now focusing on state appointments, Crist spokeswoman Erin Isaac said.

Browning said he expects to weigh in on the pick for his replacement.

"I don't think it's anybody on my staff," Browning said. "I don't think anybody on my staff would be interested in doing that."

Chief deputy supervisor Melba Hamilton, a friend of Browning, said she did not know whether she would pursue the job yet.

Other people with ties to Crist, such as state Sen. Mike Fasano, were mum on candidates for the job, which pays $117,000 a year based on a state formula. But Browning said he wants his job kept in capable hands.

"I would hate for someone to come in and undo everything that we have done," Browning said.

David DeCamp can be reached at 727 869-6232 or ddecamp@sptimes.com.

[Last modified December 14, 2006, 22:54:33]