Changes

==Early life and education==

==Early life and education==

Crist was born in Altoona, [[Pennsylvania]],<ref>[http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-flacristbio0612sbjun12,0,3101270.htmlstory Crist biography]</ref> the second child of four and the only son of Charles Joseph Crist, Sr. and his wife Nancy. Crist's [[Greece|Greek]] grandparents had immigrated to the area in 1912. His family moved to St. Petersburg, Florida, in 1960,<ref>[http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-flacristbio0612sbjun12,0,3101270.htmlstory Crist biography]</ref> where his father practiced medicine.

Crist was born in Altoona, [[Pennsylvania]],<ref name="sunsentinelbio">[http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-flacristbio0612sbjun12,0,3101270.htmlstory Florida Gov. Charlie Crist biography]</ref> the second child of four and the only son of Charles Joseph Crist, Sr. and his wife Nancy. Crist's [[Greece|Greek]] grandparents had immigrated to the area in 1912. His family moved to St. Petersburg, Florida, in 1960,<ref name="sunsentinelbio"/> where his father practiced medicine.

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>[http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-flacristbio0612sbjun12,0,3101270.htmlstory Crist biography]</ref> Crist went on to earn his law degree in 1981 from the Cumberland School of Law in Birmingham, Alabama.<ref>[http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-flacristbio0612sbjun12,0,3101270.htmlstory Crist biography]</ref>

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.

===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 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 - 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'd "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 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]].