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Politics

Cancellation unlikely to soften governor's stance on insurance

By ADAM C. SMITH
Published February 4, 2007

As if Gov. Charlie Crist hasn't had enough ammunition against the insurance industry. Crist said last week that his parents had been dropped by Tower Hill Insurance Group. Dr. Charles J. and Nancy Crist, in their 70s, live on Snell Isle in St. Petersburg.

Asked by a reporter if he considered the move retaliation for his tough words for the industry during the special session on insurance, Crist said, "No, I don't." Then he added, "I hadn't thought of that."

He was reminded that Tower Hill is the same company that covers Port Charlotte resident "Stan," whom Crist often invoked in talking about the need to lower Floridians' insurance bills. "They were better to Stan than my mom and dad," Crist said.

Marion vs. Pam

On today's Political Connections on Bay News 9, Tampa mayoral candidate Marion Lewis is anything but shy about criticizing the record of incumbent Mayor Pam Iorio. The former police captain said the poor and middle class are getting squeezed out in Tampa, that the city's infrastructure is a mess, morale in city government terrible, and that he would drastically cut top-level positions.

"We're paying millions of dollars in salaries for unnecessary positions," Lewis said in the taped interview. "You've got all kinds of administrators, you've all kinds of directors, and it appears that nobody is really directing anything."

Iorio in a telephone interview brushed off of Lewis' criticism as false, noting among other things that her administration is no larger than her predecessor's.

Political Connections airs at 11 a.m. on Bay News 9 and can be seen later on Channel 342 (Bay News 9 on demand).

Gov. Sink?

Democratic Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink may be planning to stick around and run for governor. Jim Cassady, the former Bank of America executive and longtime associate of Sink's, seemed to be confirming the speculation Friday as he spoke to Capital Tiger Bay.

Cassady, now chief of staff at the Department of Financial Services, was a last minute stand-in for Sink, who was flying around the state with Crist to inspect storm damage. He suggested Tiger Bay members might want to keep an eye on future meetings between the governor and cabinet now that Sink is the only Democrat on board.

"I think Cabinet meetings this year and going forward over the next several years, four years, eight years, 16 - I didn't say that - are going to be interesting," Cassady said. Eight years as chief finance officer and then eight years as governor?

Romney's team

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney now has a dozen paid staffers in Florida, including eight recently hired additions. Among them? Former Jeb Bush aides Sherri McVay, for political director; Kristy Campbell, for state communications director; and Nick Hansen, who managed Angelo Cappelli's state House campaign in St. Petersburg last year, for Tampa Bay field director.

Obama's Florida fundraising

With John Kerry opting out of the '08 presidential race, one of his top Florida money-raisers, Miami lawyer Kirk Wagar, has jumped onto the Barack Obama campaign. In an e-mail to donors, Wagar explained his enthusiasm for the Democratic Illinois senator:

"I believe that this campaign may be the most important campaign for this country for the next 30 years. I am excited about the possibility that people of color and young professionals may feel more invested in this country because of his ability to succeed. I also think that Americans of all ages and backgrounds are yearning for the deliberate thoughtfulness that he projects on every issue, problem and opportunity."

Clinton, Vilsack build ties to Florida

A couple Democratic alums of past Florida gubernatorial campaigns are hooking up with presidential campaigns. Jim Davis' communications director, Josh Earnest, is working for Tom Vilsack of Iowa, while former Janet Reno campaign manager Mo Elleithee is joining Hillary Clinton's campaign as a senior spokesman.

Shalala and Colbert

University of Miami president Donna Shalala appeared last week on the Colbert Report, where the host wondered how Bill Clinton's health and human services secretary is using her retirement from federal government to destroy America.

"Were the Cabinet meetings frequently interrupted so you could change the bong water?" Stephen Colbert wondered.

He quizzed her on her support for Hillary in '08 and on her Peace Corps stint in Iran: "Did you learn anything about the Iranians that would help us understand them better so that we might invade them better?"

Hanging with Chad and Reno

Reno makes a cameo appearance in the NFL Network's Super Bowl ad today. With Florida hosting the game, the spot is fittingly titled "Hanging with Chad." It features Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson hosting a party with the likes of Reno, Martha Stewart, LL Cool J and Triumph the Insult Comic Dog.

Adam C. Smith, Alex Leary and Lucy Morgan contributed to this week's Buzz. For much more breaking political news, check out blogs.tampabay.com/buzz.

[Last modified February 4, 2007, 05:24:51]