Changes

Crist served as class president at St. Petersburg High School and, later, as student body vice president at [[Florida State University]]. In high school Crist was the starting [[quarterback]] for his [[football]] team. He later played football at [[Wake Forest University]] before transferring and receiving his undergraduate degree from Florida State in 1978.<ref name="sunsentinelbio"/> Crist went on to earn his law degree in 1981 from the Cumberland School of Law in Birmingham, Alabama.<ref name="sunsentinelbio"/>

Crist served as class president at St. Petersburg High School and, later, as student body vice president at [[Florida State University]]. In high school Crist was the starting [[quarterback]] for his [[football]] team. He later played football at [[Wake Forest University]] before transferring and receiving his undergraduate degree from Florida State in 1978.<ref name="sunsentinelbio"/> Crist went on to earn his law degree in 1981 from the Cumberland School of Law in Birmingham, Alabama.<ref name="sunsentinelbio"/>

Crist received invaluable experience in Florida’s criminal justice system while working as an intern in the State Attorney’s Office before accepting a position as general counsel for the minor league division of the Baseball Commissioner’s Office.

Crist received invaluable experience in Florida's criminal justice system while working as an intern in the State Attorney's Office before accepting a position as general counsel for the minor league division of the Baseball Commissioner's Office.

==Political career==

==Political career==

===Commissioner of Education===

===Commissioner of Education===

In 2000, Governor Crist won a special election and became Florida’s last elected Commissioner of Education. The position became a political appointment in 2003 due to a 1998 constitutional amendment.

In 2000, Governor Crist won a special election and became Florida's last elected Commissioner of Education. The position became a political appointment in 2003 due to a 1998 constitutional amendment.

===Attorney General===

===Attorney General===

He was elected Attorney General in 2002. He carried the general election by more than one-third of a million votes to become Florida’s first elected Republican Attorney General.

He was elected Attorney General in 2002. He carried the general election by more than one-third of a million votes to become Florida's first elected Republican Attorney General.

===Governor===

===Governor===

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>[https://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>[https://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>https://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>https://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D91CGGV81&show_article=1</ref>