Changes

'''Charles Joseph "Charlie" Crist, Jr.''' (born July 24, 1956), is an [[attorney]] and a former [[governor]], state Senator and Attorney General of the State of [[Florida]]. He served as a [[Republican]] for the majority of his term as governor, before becoming an [[Independent]] in 2010. He joined the Democrats in 2012.

'''Charles Joseph "Charlie" Crist, Jr.''' (born July 24, 1956), is an [[attorney]] and a former [[governor]], state Senator and Attorney General of the State of [[Florida]]. He served as a [[Republican]] for the majority of his term as governor, before becoming an [[Independent]] in 2010. He joined the Democrats in 2012.

Crist ran for the [[United States|U.S.]] Senate in 2010, competing in the GOP primary race for the seat held by Crist's own appointee, Senator [[George LeMieux]]. LeMieux had replaced Senator [[Mel Martinez]], who had announced he was quitting the Senate. Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, [[Marco Rubio]], also ran for the seat in the 2010 GOP primary. Crist started trailing in the polls to Rubio by large margins and in April 2010 he decided to run as a Independent as it appeared he would lose the nomination to Rubio. Rubio won the general election in November 2010 by a margin of 49% to 30%, with [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] [[Kendrick Meek]] getting 20% of the vote.

Crist ran for the [[United States|U.S.]] Senate in 2010, competing in the GOP primary race for the seat held by Crist's own appointee, Senator [[George LeMieux]]. LeMieux had replaced Senator [[Mel Martinez]], who had announced he was quitting the Senate. Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, [[Marco Rubio]], also ran for the seat in the 2010 GOP primary. Crist started trailing in the polls to Rubio by large margins and in April 2010 he decided to run as an Independent as it appeared he would lose the nomination to Rubio. Rubio won the general election in November 2010 by a margin of 49% to 30%, with [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] [[Kendrick Meek]] getting 20% of the vote.

==Early life and education==

==Early life and education==

On November 7, 2006, Charlie Crist was elected to serve as Florida’s governor.<ref name="sunsentinelbio"/> He held conservative positions on social issues, such as broadening the use of [[capital punishment]],<ref>[http://issues2000.org/Governor/Charlie_Crist_Crime.htm Issues2000 Governor Charlie Crist]</ref> and he also signed legislation that allows employees, customers and those invited to a business establishment to keep guns locked in their motor vehicles, provided they had a concealed weapons license &mdash; a policy that [[liberal]] critics dubbed "bring your gun to work day."<ref>[http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSN0948339420080409 Florida lawmakers pass "bring your gun to work" law]</ref> He also initially supported a ban on gay adoption, but stated he had "evolved" on the issue and supported a 2008 Miami-Dade County court's ruling declaring the ban was unconstitutional.<ref>[http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2010-09-14/news/fl-crist-gay-rights-20100914_1_gay-adoption-gay-couples-charlie-crist Crist: I've had 'appropriate' evolution on gay rights]</ref>

On November 7, 2006, Charlie Crist was elected to serve as Florida’s governor.<ref name="sunsentinelbio"/> He held conservative positions on social issues, such as broadening the use of [[capital punishment]],<ref>[http://issues2000.org/Governor/Charlie_Crist_Crime.htm Issues2000 Governor Charlie Crist]</ref> and he also signed legislation that allows employees, customers and those invited to a business establishment to keep guns locked in their motor vehicles, provided they had a concealed weapons license &mdash; a policy that [[liberal]] critics dubbed "bring your gun to work day."<ref>[http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSN0948339420080409 Florida lawmakers pass "bring your gun to work" law]</ref> He also initially supported a ban on gay adoption, but stated he had "evolved" on the issue and supported a 2008 Miami-Dade County court's ruling declaring the ban was unconstitutional.<ref>[http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2010-09-14/news/fl-crist-gay-rights-20100914_1_gay-adoption-gay-couples-charlie-crist Crist: I've had 'appropriate' evolution on gay rights]</ref>

On economics however, his actions alienated conservatives. Crist supported President Obama’s $787 billion stimulus package. With a $2.4 billion state deficit, Crist vetoed Republican proposals to cut $365 million from the budget.<ref>http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics/florida/story/875453.html</ref> In December 2008, when the state economy was plunging, Governor Crist took a 12 day trip to Europe with his fiancée that cost taxpayers $430,000.<ref>http://www.palmbeachpost.com/local_news/content/local_news/epaper/2008/12/08/1208europe.html</ref> Crist defended it as a trip to promote [[free trade]].  

On economics however, his actions alienated conservatives. Crist supported President Obama’s $787 billion stimulus package. With a $2.4 billion state deficit, Crist vetoed Republican proposals to cut $365 million from the budget.<ref>http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics/florida/story/875453.html</ref> In December 2008, when the state economy was plunging, Governor Crist took a 12-day trip to Europe with his fiancée that cost taxpayers $430,000.<ref>http://www.palmbeachpost.com/local_news/content/local_news/epaper/2008/12/08/1208europe.html</ref> Crist defended it as a trip to promote [[free trade]].  

Although Crist opposed offshore oil drilling during his gubernatorial campaign, he changed his position, saying "I mean, let's face it, the price of gas has gone through the roof, and Florida families are suffering, and my heart bleeds for them."<ref>http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D91CGGV81&show_article=1</ref>  

Although Crist opposed offshore oil drilling during his gubernatorial campaign, he changed his position, saying "I mean, let's face it, the price of gas has gone through the roof, and Florida families are suffering, and my heart bleeds for them."<ref>http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D91CGGV81&show_article=1</ref>  

==Post-political career==

==Post-political career==

As of January 7, 2011, Crist is employed by the law firm of Morgan & Morgan. School officials with Stetson Univerity in DeLand, Florida have stated he might work part-time there as a instructor at the law school.<ref>[http://beta2.tbo.com/news/politics/2011/jan/07/crist-joins-morgan-amp-morgan-law-firm-ar-17088/ Crist joins Morgan & Morgan]</ref>

As of January 7, 2011, Crist is employed by the law firm of Morgan & Morgan. School officials with Stetson University in DeLand, Florida have stated he might work part-time there as an instructor at the law school.<ref>[http://beta2.tbo.com/news/politics/2011/jan/07/crist-joins-morgan-amp-morgan-law-firm-ar-17088/ Crist joins Morgan & Morgan]</ref>

On the eve of the 2012 [[Republican National Convention]] Crist announced that he was supporting [[Barack Obama]] in the upcoming election.<ref>[http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/columns/former-gov-charlie-crist-heres-why-im-backing-barack-obama/1247631]</ref>

On the eve of the 2012 [[Republican National Convention]] Crist announced that he was supporting [[Barack Obama]] in the upcoming election.<ref>[http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/columns/former-gov-charlie-crist-heres-why-im-backing-barack-obama/1247631]</ref>