Jennifer Carroll

Gov. Charlie Crist met with state Rep. Jennifer Carroll Wednesday afternoon during a stop in Jacksonville. Carroll, the only Black Republican in the Florida House of Representatives, is one of several people under consideration by Crist for a short relief stint in the U.S. Senate as Sen. Mel Martinez quits early.

If selected, Carroll would be the first Black U.S. senator in Florida history, and only the second Black woman, after Illinois’ Carol Moseley Braun, to serve in the U.S. Senate. In the Florida Legislature, she represents Fleming Island, a community located about 15 miles southwest of Jacksonville.

‘Went well’

Carroll, a former U.S. Navy officer, took time out from preparing to celebrate her 26th wedding anniversary with her husband, Nolan, to speak exclusively to the Florida Courier immediately after her interview at Cecil Field in Jacksonville, where Crist was touring an F-15 aircraft repair facility.

“The interview went well,” she said, estimating that she spoke to the governor for about 45 minutes. “He asked questions about legislation and policies concerning health, cap and trade, Cuba, and the military, among other things. I was fully prepared.”

Carroll said that she had gotten calls and e-mails from friends and supporters who thought she should apply for the vacant Senate seat. She didn’t apply and was “stunned” to receive a call on Tuesday from the governor’s office asking if she could have a chat with Crist about the position the next day.

Met with family

“It was unexpected. It felt like something heavy landed on my lap,” she exclaimed. “I told them that I would entertain the thought after I communicated with my family.

“They gave me the OK. My husband Nolan said, ‘It’s about time they recognized your talent,’” she grinned.

Carroll played down the historic nature – if she is appointed – of being Florida’s first Black female senator.

‘It’s what you do’

“I’ve been the ‘first Black’ for a number of things,” she explained. That’s insufficient. It’s what you do with it that really counts.” She said that if she got the appointment, she would be up to speed on day one. She mused about what her appointment would mean.

“It would be a great message, especially to our young ladies, if I were appointed and on the national scene, that anything is possible if you are prepared. When a door is open, be equipped and prepared. They should know that the world is their oyster, and that they shouldn’t limit themselves to their four walls. It would be a great way for me to help others and expand opportunities for others.”

NRA, NAACP

Carroll was born in Port of Spain, Trinidad and immigrated to America at age 8. She enlisted in the United States Navy in 1979 and served for 20 years before retiring as a lieutenant commander. She earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of New Mexico, and a master of business administration from St. Leo University. She and her husband have three children.

She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and a lifetime member of both the National Rifle Association and the NAACP. Carroll was elected to the state House of Representatives in 2003 and was subsequently reelected in 2004 and 2006.

According to Carroll, Crist is looking to have his selection made prior to when Congress returns to Washington, D.C. from its summer break scheduled to end on Sept. 8.

Others considered

Crist also met with University of North Florida president John Delaney while in Jacksonville. Delaney just finished a fill-in stint of his own, serving as interim university system chancellor. Delaney also is a former Jacksonville mayor.

Crist is also said to be considering former U.S. Attorney Bobby Martinez, who was previously interviewed, and the governor’s former chief of staff, George Lemieux, who was also interviewed Wednesday.

The governor has requested applications for the vacant seat from Tallahassee lobbyist and former secretary of state Jim Smith and Miami- Dade congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart. Diaz-Balart has told the governor he’s not interested. The names of former Lieutenant Gov. Toni Jennings and U.S Rep. Bill Young also have been mentioned as possibilities.

‘Great integrity’

“The consideration in my mind is I have to appoint somebody who in my belief, number one, has great integrity, will serve our fellow Floridians with honor, and will do an incredible job of making sure that we continue to be well represented in both seats in the United States Senate,” Crist told reporters in Tallahassee Tuesday. “And those are my primary considerations that they will work very hard every day for our fellow Floridians. I want to make sure that when Congress goes back in session that the people of Florida are fully represented.”

Crist and former House Speaker Marco Rubio are running against each other in the Republican primary for the seat, and Kendrick Meek is currently the only major Democrat in the race.

Crist has said repeatedly that he will not name himself as the interim senator.

Randy Wilkinson

Randy Wilkinson is currently a county commissioner (District 2) in Polk County. Everyone who is involved in politics in Polk County has wondered at one time or another what he was going to do for the 2010 race.  There has even been speculation that he was going to run for the seat being vacated by Adam Putnam for Congressional District 12.  If he chose to do this it would put him in a Republican Primary with Dennis Ross of Lakeland and Thomas Snyder of Winter Haven.  Ross has picked up many endorsements including Gov. Jeb Bush and Sen. Paula Dockery.

Other rumors for a Randy Wilkinson run would be for Florida State House district 66.  If he entered this race it would put him in a 4-way race.  Currently Leviticus Reed of Winter Haven, Ben Albritton of Wauchula, and Gary Newberry have filed to run for the seat being vacated by Baxter Troutman who is term limited.

What about running for School Board?  Randy previously served on the school board and could go back.  I guess we will have to wait and see.

Randy has planned an announcement on Thursday in Bartow @ 4:30.  The event will be held at Blunt Park, which is across the street from the courthouse.  If it rains the event will be held at 395 Tyler St in an old farmhouse.

The 2010 political season started early in the Heartland when Ben Albritton announced he’s running for state representative in District 66, which includes all of Hardee County, plus a portion of northwest Sebring, Avon Park and south-central Polk County.

Two Winter Haven men have joined the race as well: chiropractor Gary Newberry, and Leviticus Reed, who ran last year for the Winter Haven Canal Commission.

Newberry told a Polk newspaper that schools, health care, property taxes and insurance rates fair are the major issues in the state. “It never changes,” he said. “There’s always going to be these issues.”

Albritton loves public service, and promotes the Florida Citrus Commission, which he serves as the district 2 commissioner; this year, he’s the chairman.

“I get the greatest pleasure out of serving,” Albritton said. “I love to do it. That’s how I get more out of life.”

District 66 is currently represented by Baxter Troutman, who is limited to four terms in office. Troutman and Albritton are friends, and it was Troutman who first suggested Albritton could replace him.

“The actual thought emerged from a conversation he and I had four years ago,” Albritton said. “He was down here at my office talking to my brother and me, and we asked, who’s thinking about running? Who’s going to fill this seat when you’re gone? And he smiled and looked at me, and said, ‘What about you?’”

Albritton said if he hadn’t been a fourth-generation citrus grower, he might have chosen the ministry. He teaches a life group – a church group of 12 to 15 people who meet at his house every Wednesday.

Family is more important to him than business: “I prioritize my life. It’s simply the only way to keep my head above water. Guard and protect your family. I’m married to the most amazing woman I ever met, Missy. God, family, and others,” said Albritton. “If any of those things get out of order in my life, I know it very quickly.”

Albritton and his wife have three children: Rebecca, 11; Joshua, 8; and Ryan, 4. They live in Wauchula.

The Albritton family started in Bowling Green, which Ben points out was the first home of the Strawberry Festival, before it moved to Plant City. Today, the family owns groves in Hardee and Manatee counties, and an insurance business.

Albritton has a degree in citrus and business from Florida Southern College in Lakeland.

His platform has three components which Albritton said are intertwined and inseparable: family values, education and business. “That is the core of our society,” Albritton said.

“Insurance is super-important in Florida, and it’s going to be a significant challenge in the future,” he said. “The greenbelt exemption going to have be protected with life and limb.”

He also wants to reduce the number of divorces. He cited research from Strong Marriages Florida, which says fragmented families cost the taxpayers $1.9 billion per year.

Albritton would not disclose how much money he has raised, except to say the amount is significant. The first filing deadline for financial statements is June 30.