Charlie Crist

A high-ranking Broward sheriff’s official under scrutiny for his association with alleged master conman Scott Rothstein has a friend and patron in high places: Gov. Charlie Crist.

Tom Wheeler, second in command at Broward Sheriff’s office, was a fraternity brother with Crist at Florida State University in the late 1970s. Crist has helped him land at least two state jobs since 2001. During that time, Wheeler’s yearly salary climbed from $47,239 to $166,000 now.

Wheeler, currently the Broward undersheriff, was one of the top local law enforcement officials wooed by Rothstein, a disbarred Fort Lauderdale lawyer accused by federal officials of running a $1.2 billion Ponzi scheme. Wheeler took at least two private jet flights with Rothstein, and has declined to answer the Sun Sentinel’s questions about the trips and his relationship with Rothstein, who is now in federal detention.

Wheeler’s boss, Sheriff Al Lamberti, said earlier this month that he’d investigate, but appears to be backing off that statement. In a recent interview, Lamberti bristled at the suggestion he might be going easy on his subordinate because of Wheeler’s connections to Florida’s governor.

“Nobody is bigger than the agency, not even me,” Lamberti said. “You step over the line, I’m not going to tolerate it.”

Yet the sheriff has been slow to investigate Wheeler, who flew with Rothstein to attend Miami Dolphins and University of Florida football games in 2008.

It was only after the Sun Sentinel showed the sheriff a photograph of Wheeler in a plane with Rothstein that Lamberti said he would look into it.

“Things have been brought to my attention that have required me to initiate a BSO internal affairs investigation, and that investigation is under way,” Lamberti said Jan. 4.

In his interview last week , though, Lamberti acknowledged no investigation has begun, and said he’s not sure there is a need for one.

At issue is whether Wheeler accepted free travel from Rothstein or a Rothstein associate and failed to report it. According to the Florida Commission on Ethics, the Sheriff’s Office lists Wheeler as an employee required to disclose his finances, so he must also report any gifts he has received that are worth more than $100. Wheeler has not reported receiving any gifts.

Lamberti, though, now says the Sheriff’s office may have gone overboard in including Wheeler on the list of employees required to make financial disclosures, and that the gift-reporting requirement may not apply to him.

“Right now, it’s not clear,” the sheriff said, adding that “I think people are being unfair to Tom Wheeler.”

Wheeler, 51, did not respond to a request from the SunSentinel for comment.

The sheriff said he’s known Wheeler himself for some 30 years, and that Crist did not influence his decision to hire him in December 2007. Wheeler listed the governor first among his references, and was hired as the Sheriff’s Office executive director of professional standards at a salary of $158,000 a year.

Before coming to Broward County, Wheeler made $100,000 as an administrator at the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, a job he got in December 2006 after working with FDLE on security issues during Crist’s successful gubernatorial campaign and as a security consultant on his inaugural committee.

As he was climbing the ladder in Tallahassee, Crist found jobs for his fellow Pi Kappa Alpha member on at least two occasions.

After January 2001, when Crist was sworn in as Florida’s commissioner of education, Wheeler got a job as educational policy director in South Florida, for the Department of Education. Wheeler, who has a criminology degree from Florida State, lists no experience in education policy on his resume. He started at a salary of $75,000, a significant increase over his previous $47,000-a-year job as an investigator for the Department of Environmental Protection.

Two years later, when Crist was sworn in as Florida’s attorney general, he brought Wheeler along, and gave him the title of “director of law enforcement relations” at the Attorney General’s office and reclassified the position to senior management.

Lamberti, who was appointed Broward sheriff by Crist in September 2007, said he’s had no communication with the governor or his office about Wheeler and his ties to Rothstein.

At the moment, Lamberti said, he has no evidence that Wheeler’s relationship with Rothstein goes beyond the two jet trips or that Rothstein got anything in return, such as legal work from BSO.

If that changes, “then I will commence an investigation” and consider asking an outside agency to conduct it, Lamberti said. “Right now I have full confidence that he can perform his job.”

Though there have been allegations that Wheeler took a golf trip to Ireland last fall that was paid for by Rothstein, Lamberti said he’s confident Wheeler is telling the truth when he says he went on the trip but that Rothstein didn’t pay for it.

A Crist spokesman did not respond to questions about Wheeler.

Lamberti’s right-hand man at BSO, executive officer David Benjamin, also was associated with Rothstein. Lamberti acted swiftly in that case, transferring Lt. Benjamin to a different job and opening an Internal Affairs investigation into his business dealings with Rothstein.

“He clearly stepped over the boundary about what’s permitted by a BSO deputy,” Lamberti said.

Seminoles and Charlie Crist

A special House committee on Thursday rejected the new agreement between Gov. Charlie Crist and the Seminole Tribe to expand gambling at their Florida casinos, leaving questions about the blackjack tables the tribe’s now running.

The tribe says the blackjack and other banked card games are legal. But Rep. Bill Galvano said the tables are being operated illegally.

And it’s questionable whether the two sides can work out a deal.

“This is the first time that the tribe feels it needs to turn its attention from attempting to negotiate a contract to its other alternatives,” said lawyer Barry Richard, who represents the tribe.

That other option is turning to the federal government, which can decide what games the tribes are allowed while the state gets no money. If a compact were still sought, the tribe would expect the state to give it exclusive rights to conduct certain games or geographical exclusivity to run games in exchange for some of the profits.

Thursday’s vote was the latest in a big back-and-forth between Florida and the Tribe. In 2004, voters approved slot machines in Broward and Miami-Dade county horse and dog tracks and jai-alai frontons. The tribe then began negotiating a compact with then-Gov. Jeb Bush, but the issue didn’t go very far, largely because of Bush’s anti-gambling stance.

When Crist took over in January 2007, compact negotiations began anew and progress was made quickly. That November, Crist signed a compact that allowed slot machines and blackjack at the tribe’s seven casinos. But then-House Speaker Marco Rubio and then-Senate President Ken Pruitt successfully challenged the agreement in the state Supreme Court, which ruled Crist didn’t have the authority to compete the deal.

Last year, the Legislature prepared it’s own compact proposal and sent it to Crist to negotiate the final details. The governor signed the second deal in August and hoped lawmakers would approve it in a fall special session. Thursday’s vote essentially killed the agreement.

Charlie Crist & Marco Rubio

Miami, FL – U.S. Senate candidate Marco Rubio issued the following statement regarding tonight’s Pinellas County Republican Executive Committee straw poll victory (106-54):

“I continue to be humbled by the outpouring of support for our campaign. Tonight, Pinellas County Republicans joined a growing chorus of Floridians voicing their support for our vision built on the timeless conservative principles of limited government, traditional values, free enterprise and individual freedom.

“Like Republicans all over this state who have stepped forward to stand with us, Pinellas Republicans understand that the way to rebuild a united, strong and expanding Republican Party is to stay true to the mainstream values all Republicans and most Americans share.  Tonight’s vote reaffirms what I believe to my core: principled conservatism doesn’t just win elections, it provides a proven and successful path for governing and policy-making.”

BACKGROUND: THOSE THAT KNOW BOTH CANDIDATES TEND TO STAND WITH RUBIO

A Rubio Victory In The Pasco County GOP Straw Poll Revealed “A Sign Of The Governor’s Poor Standing Among Some Of His Historically Strongest Supporters.”  “Marco Rubio got 73 votes to Charlie Crist’s 9 in a straw poll last night conducted by the Republican Party of Pasco — a sign of the governor’s poor standing among some of his historically strongest supporters. … Why should this concern Crist, who holds a commanding lead in statewide polls?  Pasco is just one county removed from his home in Pinellas, for one, and the Pasco REC also endorsed Crist early in his 2006 GOP primary against Tom Gallagher. At the 2005 Ronald Reagan Day Dinner in Pasco, Crist told boisterous supporters that he considered the county his back yard and invoked its crucial role in the 2004 election.  ‘(Pasco) won it for the president,’ Crist told the St. Petersburg Times. ‘It’s hugely significant to me.’”  (“Rubio Crushes Crist In Pasco Straw Poll,” St. Petersburg Times, 6/19/09)

In Lee County, Where Crist Campaigned For Obama’s Stimulus, Rubio’s Straw Poll Victory Indicates He “Is Stirring The Rank And File.”  “Marco Rubio … is stirring the rank and file in Lee County.  At least a weekend straw poll says so. The poll, by the Lee County Republican Executive Committee, gave Rubio a 60-11 victory. … But the former speaker is banking on his message of conservatism — fiscal and social — to resonate with party loyalists who are not as moderate as Crist. … Southwest Florida Republicans are hearing the message anyway, and responding well, said Matt Caldwell, vice chairman of the Lee County Republican Executive Committee. Caldwell voted for Rubio in the straw poll.  ‘The party locally is very excited about having Rubio serve Florida in the U.S. Senate,’ Caldwell said. … For many conservative Republicans, Crist stepped over the line when he campaigned earlier this year in Lee County with Obama for the recovery program, Caldwell said.  ‘I think it would have been much more politically astute for him not to be out in front of the cameras, hand-in-hand with the president,’ Caldwell said.”  (“Lee County GOP Poll Pro-Rubio,” Gannett News Service, 7/15/09)

In A July 2009 Highlands County Straw Poll, Rubio Won 75-1.  “If Republican Executive Committees decided statewide primary elections, Charlie Crist’s Senate campaign would be in big trouble. … Last night, the Highlands GOP held their own vote that produced 75 votes for Rubio and one for Crist.  ‘People were very conservative and they don’t like what’s going on. They’re just upset with the way things are going with Crist. They think he’s abandoned us,’ said state committeeman Chuck Oakes.”  (“Marco Rubio Crushes Charlie Crist In Another Straw Poll,” St. Petersburg Times, 7/31/09)

Demonstrating His Growing Appeal In The Panhandle, Rubio Won An August 2009 Bay County Straw Poll, 23-2.  “Mirroring the sentiment established by Republican Executive Committees statewide, the Bay County REC overwhelmingly gave their informal support to Marco Rubio in his bid to replace U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez during a straw poll at their Monday meeting.  Rubio got 23 votes; Gov. Charlie Crist received two votes, and two members voted for none of the above. Despite having the formal endorsement of the Republican Party of Florida, Crist has not faired well in REC straw polls statewide, a possible indication that he has not won over the party faithful. … ‘Charlie Crist may very well win…but he needs to prove why he deserves a U.S. Senate nomination as far as the Republican Party is concerned,’ said Jonathan Hayes, state committeeman for the Bay County REC.”  (“Bay County GOP Wants Rubio, Not Crist,” Panama City News Herald, 8/24/09)

In August 2009, Rubio Won A Jefferson County Straw Poll With 87 Percent Of The Vote.  “My name is Clyde Simpson.  I have been the Chairman of the REC in Jefferson County for five years and earlier this year I was elected Chairman of the CD 2 Caucus. … Last Tuesday was our REC meeting.  We had our 28 committee members and about 17 guests.  Some first time.  I had decided to do a straw vote and the idea was well received.  You won with 87 % of the vote.”  (Email From Jefferson County REC Chairman Clyde Simpson, 8/20/09)

Demonstrating His Appeal Among Younger Voters, Rubio Won An August 2009 Straw Poll Conducted By The Florida Federation Of College Republicans.  “Thanks to everyone that came out to the State Board meeting and the Drive the Discussion event. Straw Poll Results: Rubio 19 Crist 6.”  (Florida Federation of College Republicans Facebook Page, 8/24/09)

In September 2009, Rubio Won A 65-4 Victory In A Straw Poll Conducted By The Republican Women’s Club of Duval Federated.  “On September 3, 2009, during their monthly meeting the Republican Women’s Club of Duval Federated (RWCDF) held a straw poll for the upcoming primary between Charlie Crist and Marco Rubio for the US Senate seat in 2010. With 70 ballots cast, the resounding winner was Marco Rubio with 65 votes, Charlie Crist received four votes… ‘A straw poll is a great way to hear from the grass roots,’ said Betsy Young, President. ‘We were pleased to see so many enthusiastic voters in this straw poll.’”  (“Republican Women’s Club of Duval Federated Holds Straw Poll For U.S. Senate Race,” Press Release, 9/3/09)

Proving His Strength In Rural Florida, Rubio Won The Gilchrist County Straw Poll With 92 Percent Of The Vote.  “Yet another county Republican Party, in Gilchrist County, has held a straw vote in the U.S. Senate GOP primary and sided with Marco Rubio over Gov. Charlie Crist. … Gilchrist, like most of the counties where Republican Party groups have held the votes, is a small, rural county with conservative voters and 4,059 registered Republicans.  Gilchrist party Chairman Tommy Langford said the 12 party executive committee members at his group’s meeting Monday night voted 11-1 for Rubio. He said typical attendance at meetings ranges up to about two dozen people, but that he doesn’t think the vote would have been any different if more members had been present.”  (“Gilchrist REC Votes For Rubio,” Tampa Tribune, 9/15/09)

In A Unanimous 46-0 Vote, Rubio Won A September 2009 Straw Poll In Hernando County.  “Tonight it was in Hernando County, Charlie Crist’s back yard and Bill McCollum’s native county. The tally was 46 for Marco Rubio, zero for Charlie Crist.  ‘I’m surprised but I’m not surprised,’ said party chairman Blaise Ingoglia, stressing the motion for the straw vote came from the floor, not the leadership. ‘They believe in Marco Rubio’s message and his values. The people in Hernando County tend to be a little more conservative.’”  (“Marco Rubio Crushes Charlie Crist In Another REC Straw Poll, St. Petersburg Times, 9/17/09)

In September 2009, Rubio Won His 10th Straw Poll, A 49-3 Victory Among The Northwest Orange Republican Women Federation.  “Republican Marco Rubio has claimed another straw poll win in the brewing activist-class rebellion over Gov. Charlie Crist’s U.S. Senate bid — this time in Orange County.  The Northwest Orange Republican Women Federation voted 49-3 in a straw poll yesterday for Rubio, who has amassed a perfect 10-0 record in these unscientific, yet fascinating, demonstrations of how unpopular Crist has become with the hardcore conservative grassroots. … Crist has not [addressed the group] despite being invited, said Federation President Patty Redlich.  ‘Perhaps that had something to do with it. I don’t know,’ she said. ‘I just believe that (Rubio) is a conservative. I don’t think Charlie Crist is a conservative.  Rubio’s the complete package.’”  (“Rubio Wins Another Straw Poll In Orange County,” Orlando Sentinel, 9/18/09)

As The Orlando Sentinel Has Noted, The Straw Poll Victories Have Reflected Rubio’s Strength Among Various Constituencies Within The Republican Party.  “Rubio has cleaned Crist’s clock in counties large and small, from Duval to Gilchrist, among young Republicans, and even inching closer to Crist’s home base of Tampa Bay with straw poll wins in Hernando and Pasco counties.”  (“Rubio Wins Another Straw Poll In Orange County,” Orlando Sentinel, 9/18/09)

In September 2009, Rubio Won The Marion County GOP’s Straw Poll, 40-8.  “So what are we to make of all these GOP straw polls — Marion County’s REC last night had one where Rubio received 40 votes, Crist eight and there were four nonvotes — where the most hard-core Republican activists keep snubbing Charlie Crist and overwhelmingly favoring Marco Rubio?”  (“Are GOP Straw Polls Meaningless Or Real Trouble For Crist?” St. Petersburg Times, 9/22/09)

In October 2009, Rubio Won Palm Beach County’s Straw Poll, 90-17.  “In what has become a familiar ritual at gatherings of Republican activists across Florida, former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio trounced Gov. Charlie Crist in a straw poll of GOP Senate candidates tonight.  The vote of Palm Beach County Republican Executive Committee members was 90-17 for Rubio, who trails the more moderate Crist in fund-raising and polls of likely GOP primary voters but is a hero with the party’s conservative activist base.”  (“Palm Beach County GOP Senate Straw Poll: Rubio 90, Crist 17,” Palm Beach Post, 10/14/09”)

In November 2009, Rubio Won The Okaloosa County Straw Poll, 86-4.  “Chalk up another straw poll victory for Marco Rubio. He garnered 86 votes to Gov. Charlie Crist’s 4 votes during a straw poll today hosted by the Okaloosa Republican Exec Committee.  The straw poll, open to the public with a $20 admission fee, is the latest straw poll to lean heavily in Rubio’s favor…”  (“Okaloosa Straw Poll Goes For Rubio, McCollum, Putnam,” St. Petersburg Times, 11/8/09)

In November 2009, Rubio Won The Republican Club of South Sarasota County’s Straw Poll, 70-17 Percent.  “Marco Rubio keeps racking up the wins when it comes to straw polls. Today, November 11th, the Republican Club of South Sarasota County (RCSSC) held a straw poll. … The momentum at the grass roots is for Marco Rubio, without a doubt. Crist losing yet another straw poll does not bode well for his campaign. If this grass roots fire continues spreading with more clubs bucking their local County Party Chairs we may see a real change in politics as usual in Florida.”  (“Rubio Wins Straw Poll Held By 2nd Largest Republican Club in Florida,” RedCounty.com, 11/11/09)

At November’s Orange County Republican Party “Hob Nob,” Rubio Won The Straw Poll, 211-27.  “Republican U.S. Senate candidate Marco Rubio won Orange County’s Republican Party straw poll overwhelmingly last night — 211 to 27 — to keep up his string of victories over GOP primary foe Gov. Charlie Crist among the party’s more-active conservative base around the state.”  (“Rubio Bags Another Straw Poll Win In Orange,” Orlando Sentinel, 11/13/09)

Charlie Crist

Governor Charlie Crist bluntly tried to shed two big image problems — his hug of President Obama and past support of the $787 billion federal stimulus package — in a unity party-unity plea Saturday that sounded like a preview of his U.S. Senate campaign theme.

Crist told more than 200 members of the state Republican Executive Committee that “this guy in the White House” is doing more to build the GOP than they could do for themselves. But he stressed that “I do not apologize” for welcoming Obama to Fort Myers or his acceptance of Florida’s share of stimulus cash, which he said kept cops and teachers on the job.

Former House Speaker Marco Rubio, the aggressive conservative Miamian who has been building momentum in the Senate race, signaled that he won’t let the Obama-stimulus controversy subside in Republican ranks. However Crist explains it now, Rubio said, the governor “cut the legs out from under” the GOP economic alternative in Congress and happily applauded Obama on the president’s first visit to Florida last February.

“Some people criticize me for going down to Fort Myers, being nice to the president of the United States of America. I do not apologize for it and I never will,” Crist said at the state GOP meeting. The governor, who is known for being effusively polite to everyone he meets, said his parents brought him up that way.

“I don’t agree with the guy on hardly anything he does but that’s OK,” he said of Obama. “That’s also part of our great democracy. I mean, what they are doing with health care right now is unbelievable — raising your taxes for it, raising rates for it, taking half a trillion dollars out of Medicare, and the part that bothers me most is, the whole thing has become a covert operation.”

Crist appeared with Obama in Fort Myers last February and thanked him for the stimulus plan, saying it was important for Congress to pass it. When Obama visited Jacksonville late last year, after Crist’s poll numbers had fallen and Rubio’s had risen, the governor did not join the president and said he didn’t even know Obama was in the state.

ORLANDO — Cheerfully shouting “onward to victory,” Florida Republican Party Chairman Jim Greer told applauding members of the GOP state committee tonight that they need to unite if they’re going to defeat Democrats next November and in 2012.

Greer announced his resignation last Tuesday, effective Feb. 20, defusing a long-boiling controversy over his spending of party funds, raising of campaign cash and his avid support of Gov. Charlie Crist in the U.S. Senate primary. The Republican State Executive Committee had a specially called meeting this weekend, in addition to its regular annual meeting, to discuss a rising tide of demands for Greer’s resignation.

Marco Rubio

Miami, FL – U.S. Senate candidate Marco Rubio today announced that he has earned the endorsement of Congressman Paul Ryan (WI-01).

Making today’s announcement, Congressman Ryan said, “In the coming years, America faces critical decisions on government spending, taxes and entitlements that will require idea-driven leaders.  Marco Rubio has proven he is exactly the type of consistent, principled conservative the Republican Party needs to ensure the relationship between the federal government and the individual is one that maximizes freedom and prosperity.

“Marco’s record of conservative leadership offers convincing evidence that he will hold Washington accountable, prevent government from wasting our tax dollars and lead a new generation of Republicans offering bold, innovative solutions to the challenges our nation faces in the years ahead.”

Welcoming Ryan’s endorsement, Rubio commented, “Paul Ryan has become one of the Republican Party’s brightest stars because of his willingness to tackle today’s policy challenges with innovative and compelling conservative ideas.  Paul Ryan’s willingness to stand up for his principles and offer real solutions to our nation’s challenges has made him one of the GOP’s intellectual giants and a leader taxpayers can depend on to look after them and their hard-earned dollars. I look forward to working with Paul in Washington to promote freedom, protect taxpayers and show why Republicans are the party of ideas.”

About Congressman Paul Ryan: Born and raised in the community of Janesville, Paul Ryan is a fifth-generation Wisconsin native. Currently serving his sixth term as a Member of Congress, he is the Ranking Member of the House Budget Committee, where he works to bring fiscal discipline and accountability to the federal government. He is a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee, which has jurisdiction over tax policy, Social Security, health care and trade laws.  He has focused his recent legislative efforts on addressing our long-term fiscal crisis: the explosion of entitlement spending.  Ryan earned a degree in economics and political science from Miami University in Ohio. He and his wife Janna live in Janesville with their children, daughter Liza and sons Charlie and Sam.

Charlie Crist

Gov. Charlie Crist on Tuesday Evening declared a state of emergency because of cold and freezing temperatures that are expected to last all week and weekend.

The order instructs the Florida Department of Transportation to relax size requirements for vehicles, which allows farmers a better chance of getting thawed crops to processing sites before they spoil. The order also opens the door for federal relief if damage is severe.

Overnight low temperatures have plunged into the 20s in areas north and west of Tampa this week. Though a slight warm-up is expected Thursday, another cold front will sweep in Friday, bringing even colder temperatures.

The state of emergency lasts until Sunday, after which forecasters expect temperatures to rise. Earlier today Commissioner of Agriculture candidate Florida Senator Carey Baker requested that Crist declare a state of emergency to aid the farmers and agriculture community.

Carey Baker

Eustis, FL- In an effort to rescue millions of dollars of agriculture products placed at risk of loss from the hard freeze projected to occur tonight, Senator Carey Baker (R-20), Candidate for Commissioner of Agriculture, is calling on Governor Charlie Crist to declare a State of Emergency covering counties expected to be hit hardest by the unusually harsh winter temperatures sweeping the state.  In making this request, Senator Baker is joining efforts by Commissioner of Agriculture Charles Bronson, who has recommended that a State of Emergency declaration include a 14 day lifting of regulations placing weight restrictions on trucks.

Unseasonably cold winter temperatures are placing much of Florida’s agricultural commodities at risk of loss. To make matters worse, state regulations restricting the amount of weight that a truck may haul on Florida’s roads could prevent agriculture producers from processing their crops quickly enough to salvage them from freeze related damage.

“These freezing temperatures have the potential to wipe out this year’s crops. As it stands now, the regulations placing weight restrictions on trucks would hamper efforts by producers to get their produce out of their fields. Governor Crist should act without delay to declare a State of Emergency and to temporarily rescind the weight restrictions so that Florida’s producers can save as much of their crop as is possible,” said Baker.

“Agriculture is Florida’s second largest industry. We must do everything we can to protect it. We should not let regulations designed to apply during good weather cause unnecessary losses when the weather turns bad.”