Changes

In 1968, Goldner made a quixotic run for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate for the seat being vacated by the Democrat [[George Smathers]], who was initially elected in 1950. His intraparty opponent, [[Edward Gurney]], also a transplanted northerner, had far greater financial resources for the race, $7 million as opposed to Goldner's $300,000,<ref name=ameacham/> as well as six years experience as a member of the United States House. As a Republican, Goldner had supported [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] for president over [[Barry Goldwater]] in 1964.<ref>"Cramer v. Kirk: The Florida Republican Schism of 1970", p. 410.</ref> He also endorsed [[Hubert Humphrey]] in the forthcoming campaign against [[Richard M. Nixon]] and [[George Wallace]], a move which hurt Goldner with Republican voters in a closed [[primary]]. Goldner called for an immediate withdrawal by air, sea, or land of all American forces stationed in the since disbanded [[South Vietnam]]. On the campaign trail, Goldner told supporters that local government officials he had encountered had "no desire to face inevitable changes in American society."<ref name=ameacham/>

In 1968, Goldner made a quixotic run for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate for the seat being vacated by the Democrat [[George Smathers]], who was initially elected in 1950. His intraparty opponent, [[Edward Gurney]], also a transplanted northerner, had far greater financial resources for the race, $7 million as opposed to Goldner's $300,000,<ref name=ameacham/> as well as six years experience as a member of the United States House. As a Republican, Goldner had supported [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] for president over [[Barry Goldwater]] in 1964.<ref>"Cramer v. Kirk: The Florida Republican Schism of 1970", p. 410.</ref> He also endorsed [[Hubert Humphrey]] in the forthcoming campaign against [[Richard M. Nixon]] and [[George Wallace]], a move which hurt Goldner with Republican voters in a closed [[primary]]. Goldner called for an immediate withdrawal by air, sea, or land of all American forces stationed in the since disbanded [[South Vietnam]]. On the campaign trail, Goldner told supporters that local government officials he had encountered had "no desire to face inevitable changes in American society."<ref name=ameacham/>

Gurney in the [[general election]] defeated by a comfortable margin former Governor [[Leroy Collins]], the Democratic nominee to succeed Smathers, but Gurney was senator only for a single term. In 1970, Nixon was a key supporter of William Cramer's own Senate bid against [[Lawton Chiles]] for the seat vacated by another veteran Democrat [[Spessard Holland]]. Cramer, who turned aside a fratricidal primary against former federal [[Judge]] George Harrold Carswell (1919-1992), President Nixon's unsuccessful 1970 nominee for the [[United States Supreme Court]].

Gurney in the [[general election]] defeated by a comfortable margin former Governor [[Leroy Collins]], the Democratic nominee to succeed Smathers, but Gurney was senator only for a single term. In 1970, Nixon was a key supporter of William Cramer's own Senate bid against [[Lawton Chiles]] for the seat vacated by another veteran Democrat [[Spessard Holland]]. Cramer, who turned aside a fratricidal primary against former federal [[Judge]] George Harrold Carswell (1919-1992), President Nixon's unsuccessful 1970 nominee for the [[United States Supreme Court]], who carried the backing of Senator Ed Gurney.

found himself caught in the cross hairs with his former law partner and fellow Republican Goldner on one hand and President Nixon who urged Cramer to make the race on the other. "Even if he switched parties, I still have a lot of respect for him," Cramer said years later of his friend Goldner.<ref name=hartzell/> Goldner won his fourth and final term as mayor in 1971, during which he continued to oppose Nixon's domestic and Vietnam War policies. "I have broken a five-generation tradition. I am now a Democrat," announced Goldner, as he left the Republican Party of his ancestors.<ref name=hartzell/>In 1978, Goldner fared poorly in his last political race, a bid for a seat on the Pinellas County Commission.<ref name=hartzell/>

found himself caught in the cross hairs with his former law partner and fellow Republican Goldner on one hand and President Nixon who urged Cramer to make the race on the other. "Even if he switched parties, I still have a lot of respect for him," Cramer said years later of his friend Goldner.<ref name=hartzell/> Goldner won his fourth and final term as mayor in 1971, during which he continued to oppose Nixon's domestic and Vietnam War policies. "I have broken a five-generation tradition. I am now a Democrat," announced Goldner, as he left the Republican Party of his ancestors.<ref name=hartzell/>In 1978, Goldner fared poorly in his last political race, a bid for a seat on the Pinellas County Commission.<ref name=hartzell/>