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'''Charlie Crist''' (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, until switching to an [[Independent]] in 2010.  

'''Charlie Crist''' (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, becoming an [[Independent]] in 2010.  

Crist ran for the U.S. Senate in 2010; his rival in the 2010 GOP primary was state House Speaker [[Marco Rubio]], a conservative Cuban American. Crist started trailing in the polls to Rubio by large margins and in April 2010 he decided to run as a Independent since it was almost certain he would lose the Republican nomination to Rubio. He lost to Rubio anyway, by a margin of 49% to 30%, with [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] [[Kendrick Meek]] getting 20% of the vote.

Crist ran for the U.S. Senate in 2010; his rival in the 2010 GOP primary was state House Speaker [[Marco Rubio]], a conservative Cuban American. Crist started trailing in the polls to Rubio by large margins and in April 2010 he decided to run as a Independent since it was almost certain he would lose the Republican nomination to Rubio. He lost to Rubio anyway, by a margin of 49% to 30%, with [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] [[Kendrick Meek]] getting 20% of the vote.

As a public school student Crist quickly learned the value of participation, leading him to serve 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. Governor Crist then earned his law degree from the Cumberland School of Law in Birmingham, Alabama.

As a public school student Crist quickly learned the value of participation, leading him to serve 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. Governor Crist then earned his law degree from the Cumberland School of Law in Birmingham, Alabama.

Crist received invaluable experience in Florida’s criminal justice system while interning 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.

==Politics==

==Politics==

==Record as Governor==

==Record as Governor==

On November 7, 2006, Charlie Crist was elected to serve as Florida’s Governor.<ref>[http://www.flgov.com/gov_biography|Charlie Crist's Biography]</ref> Although he has held conservative positions on social issues, such as broadening the use of [[capital punishment]] <ref>http://issues2000.org/Governor/Charlie_Crist_Crime.htm</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, as long as they have a concealed weapons license. [[Liberal]] critics dubbed it "bring your gun to work day." <ref>http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSN0948339420080409</ref> He also supported a ban on gay adoption. <ref>http://www.dailyhome.com/news/2008/as-nation-1001-0-8i30u4543.htm</ref>

On November 7, 2006, Charlie Crist was elected to serve as Florida’s Governor.<ref>[http://www.flgov.com/gov_biography|Charlie Crist's Biography]</ref> He has held conservative positions on social issues, such as broadening the use of [[capital punishment]] <ref>http://issues2000.org/Governor/Charlie_Crist_Crime.htm</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, as long as they have a concealed weapons license - a policy which [[liberal]] critics dubbed "bring your gun to work day." <ref>http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSN0948339420080409</ref> He also supported a ban on gay adoption. <ref>http://www.dailyhome.com/news/2008/as-nation-1001-0-8i30u4543.htm</ref>

On economics however, his actions have alienated conservatives. Crist supported President Obama’s $787 billion stimulus package. With a $2.4 billion state deficit, Crist vetoed Republican proposals to reduce $365 million from the budget. <ref>http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics/florida/story/875453.html</ref> In December of 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 have 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 of 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>