Shift in Cabinet may only be start

By DIANE RADO and SHELBY OPPEL

© St. Petersburg Times, published January 4, 2001

TALLAHASSEE -- With a color guard, prayers and songs, two new members of the Florida Cabinet took office Wednesday. But speculation swirled over further shake-ups on the board that helps set state policy.

St. Petersburg's Charlie Crist was sworn in as education commissioner. And longtime Florida politician Tom Gallagher took over as insurance commissioner in a ceremony in the state House chamber.

Agriculture Commissioner Bob Crawford said it was "likely" he will leave his post -- ending 25 years of elected office in the Legislature and on the Florida Cabinet -- to take a job as executive director of the Department of Citrus. He is expected to make a decision next week on the citrus job, which pays $90,000 to $290,000 a year.

A Polk County native, Crawford said the citrus job in Lakeland "is kind of home" for him. Gov. Jeb Bush, who would appoint Crawford's replacement, said he has discussed the job with Sen. Charles Bronson, R-Satellite Beach, and Sen. John Laurent, R-Bartow.

In another development, the Washington Post reported that Secretary of State Katherine Harris is under consideration for the job of special envoy to Latin America in President-elect George W. Bush's administration. Harris was out of the country on vacation with her family Wednesday. But several aides expressed surprise or doubt about the report.

"I really don't believe there's any truth to that; I think it's speculation," said Karema Tyms, director of the Office of Protocol in the Department of State's International Affairs office. "I do not believe that the secretary has put her name in the hat."

The Florida Democratic Party was critical, saying Harris "seems primed to receive payment for her role in blocking recount efforts" in Florida that ultimately helped George W. Bush win the White House.

But Gov. Jeb Bush said he had no knowledge of Harris being considered for the job. "The Washington Post has been wrong in the past, and they may be wrong again," Bush said.

Bush presided over the swearing-in ceremony, which strengthened the Republican majority to 4-2 on the state Cabinet -- the largest Republican majority since Reconstruction.

The day began with an inaugural prayer breakfast hosted by the Republican Party of Florida.

Prayers were given by Vyrle Davis, Crist's principal when he attended St. Petersburg High School; Rabbi Marc S. Sack of Congregation Rodeph Sholom in Tampa; and Monsignor Laurence E. Higgins of St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Tampa.

A former state senator from Pinellas, Crist, 44, was accompanied to the swearing-in by his parents, Charles and Nancy, sisters Catherine and Margaret, and Amy Spencer, whom Crist described as "a very special friend." Spencer, 31, and Crist have been dating since September, she said.

Circuit Judge N. Sanders Sauls administered the oath of office to Crist. Sauls was in the news when he ruled against Vice President Al Gore's effort to contest the presidential election in Florida.

"I think he's a statesman who made an enormously courageous and accurate ruling," Crist said of Sauls, whom he met Tuesday. "It was a way to honor a man I have a lot of respect for."

Instead of serving traditional four-year terms, Crist and Gallagher will serve two years because of a change in the state Constitution. After 2002, the education commissioner's job will be an appointed one; and the insurance commissioner and treasurer will be combined with the comptroller's job to create a new elected post of chief financial officer.

- Times staff writer Lucy Morgan contributed to this report.

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