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Challenge in the Capitol: To scale down and lose big

By Adam C. Smith
Published March 11, 2007

Tallahassee's annual legislative session typically means weight gain for a lot of lawmakers and lobbyists, thanks to all those beers from Clyde's and countless fatty meals on the go.

But Rep. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, is challenging his fellow lawmakers and staffers in the House and Senate to reverse the trend. In a contest modeled after NBC's TV series The Biggest Loser, Bean wants them to shed pounds over the next two months.

"Nobody likes pork in government," quipped Bean, chairman of the Healthcare Council.

Rep. Ray Sansom, next in line to be speaker, says he'll reward four winners (male and female elected official and male and female staff member) who lose the greatest percentage of their body weight.

Bean says his former position as chairman of the Health Care Appropriations Committee gives him an edge: "I'm used to trimming the fat."

Not long after Thursday's announcement, there was temptation in the Capitol cafeteria: fried chicken for lunch.

Poll position

From Quinnipiac's University's Feb. 25-March 4 poll of 1,125 Florida voters: Rudy Giuliani beats Hillary Clinton 47 percent to 42 percent, while Clinton and John McCain are tied 44-44. Other Florida results:

Clinton tops former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney 48-36; Giuliani tops 2004 vice presidential candidate John Edwards 48-40; McCain tops Barack Obama 43-39; McCain edges Edwards 43-41; Obama tops Romney 43-34; Edwards beats Romney 48-32.

In a Democratic primary matchup, Clinton gets 38 percent, followed by 13 percent each for Obama and former Vice President Al Gore and 6 percent for Edwards. Among Republican primary voters, Giuliani gets 38 percent, followed by 18 percent for McCain, 14 percent for former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and 6 percent for Romney.

Another Mitt friend

Add Tampa architect and developer Carlos Alfonso, a University of Florida trustee and member of the 1998 Constitution Revision Commission, to Mitt Romney's growing Florida finance team.

McCain's coming

Look for John McCain to crisscross the state this month for fundraisers and political meetings. The word is, he'll be in Miami March 20, Tallahassee and Boca March 27 and Orlando and Jacksonville March 28.

Gallagher's beard

Tom Gallagher seems a man with few concerns.

The former chief financial officer and Republican gubernatorial candidate has been seen all over Tallahassee, sporting a wide smile and a new beard (think Al Gore, only slimmer). He appears happy, even if unemployed.

Smith's business buds

Former gubernatorial candidate Sen. Rod Smith recently joined the board of Associated Industries of Florida.

Smith said the group's chief executive, Barney Bishop, called him and invited to be on the board for "balance." Smith will be one of the more high-profile Democrats on the board, which includes only four or five, Bishop guessed. They don't ask about party affiliation.

"He told me, I don't expect you to agree with everything," said Smith, who is a partner at Avera & Smith. "My law partners were grabbing their hearts when they first heard."

NYT loves Crist

Another reason for conservatives to be anxious about Charlie Crist: A New York Times editorial praises his push to automatically restore civil rights for felons.

Adam C. Smith, Shannon Colavecchio-Van Sickler, Alex Leary and Jennifer Liberto contributed to this week's Buzz. For more breaking political news check blogs.tampabay.com/buzz.

[Last modified March 11, 2007, 00:09:12]