Changes

|name=Charlie Crist

|name=Charlie Crist

|image=Charlie Crist.jpg

|image=Charlie Crist.jpg

|party=[[Republican]] (until 2010)<br/>[[Independent]]  

|party=[[Republican]] (until 2010)<br/>[[Independent]]

|spouse=Carole Rome

|spouse=Carole Rome

|religion=Methodist

|religion=[[Methodist]]

|offices=

|offices=

===Governor===

===Governor===

On November 7, 2006, Charlie Crist was elected to serve as Florida’s Governor.<ref>[http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-flacristbio0612sbjun12,0,3101270.htmlstory Crist biography]</ref> He 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, provided they had a concealed weapons license - a policy that [[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 November 7, 2006, Charlie Crist was elected to serve as Florida’s governor.<ref>[http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-flacristbio0612sbjun12,0,3101270.htmlstory Crist biography]</ref> He 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, provided they had a concealed weapons license - a policy that [[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 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]].  

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 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]].