Mack asks feds to investigate LeMieux appointment

Posted May 21, 2012 by William March

Updated May 21, 2012 at 04:43 PM

Connie Mack IV’s U.S. Senate campaign has sent letters seeking a federal investigation of the 2009 appointment of his Republican primary opponent, George LeMieux, to the Senate by former Gov. Charlie Crist.

The request is based in part on a Tampa Tribune story Saturday about the appointment.

That story reported that according to former Republican Party Chairman Jim Greer, Crist had decided to appoint then-Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp to the Senate seat, but changed his mind in response to what Greer said called a strategy by LeMieux that included putting pressure on Crist.

Greer, who has been indicted in connection with a state Republican Party fundraising scandal, said he knew what the pressure involved, but wouldn’t say.

Kottkamp confirmed those parts of Greer’s account that directly involved him, saying he was aware that Crist had decided to give him the appointment, but that Crist changed his mind shortly before it was announced. Kottkamp said he didn’t know what kind of argument or persuasion LeMieux used to change Crist’s mind.

“Greer’s and Kottkamp’s statements themselves raise troubling concerns about the type of ‘direct pressure’ LeMieux exerted on Governor Crist to secure his appointment to the U.S. Senate,” Engle said in his letter to the federal law officers.

In addition, he said, “There are allegations that George LeMieux may have threatened to disclose harmful information about Governor Crist, and that LeMieux may have promised to support Governor Crist’s potential candidacy for the same U.S. Senate seat in exchange for his appointment.”

Engle’s letter didn’t say what the sources of those allegations are.

But, he said, “Allegations of this nature undermine the integrity of the public’s confidence in their government,” which he said can only be remedied by “a prompt and thorough investigation by law enforcement officials.”

---

Mack demands investigation of LeMieux appointment

Posted May 19, 2012 by William March

Updated May 19, 2012 at 07:12 PM

Citing a Tampa Tribune story, Rep. Connie Mack IV is demanding an investigation into the appointment of George LeMieux to a temporary U.S. Senate stint in 2009 by former Gov. Charlie Crist.

Mack and LeMieux are running against each other in the GOP U.S. Senate primary.

The story—see it here —reported that LeMieux convinced Crist to reverse a decision to appoint Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp to the seat with “a strategy that included direct pressure on Crist,” according to an account by former state Party Chairman Jim Greer, confirmed in part by Kottkamp.

Greer and Kottkamp both said they didn’t know what kind kind of argments or pressure LeMieux used to change Crist’s mind, and didn’t make accusations of extortion, but Mack campaign manager Jeff Cohen voiced the darkest suspicions.

In a campaign news release, he said LeMieux “may have used pressure to extort Charlie Crist into giving him a seat in the United States Senate” and compared the situation to Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich’s conviction for seeking political donations in return for a Senate appointment.

“Depending on what kind of pressure George LeMieux brought on Charlie Crist to gain a United States Senate seat, it may be more than just morally reprehensible, it may be outright illegal,” he said. He said the matter should be “pursued by the media and the justice system.”

---

Ross backs Mack

Posted May 19, 2012 by William March

Updated May 19, 2012 at 06:53 PM

U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross of Lakeland has endorsed fellow House member Connie Mack IV in Florida’s Republican U.S. Senate primary.

---

LeMieux wins East Hillsborough GOP straw poll

Posted May 19, 2012 by William March

Updated May 19, 2012 at 06:39 PM

George LeMieux has won another straw poll in the Republican U.S. Senate primary, this one at a picnic sponsored by three East Hillsborough County Republican clubs.

The results: LeMieux got 52 percent of the votes cast at the event, to 38 percent for Connie Mack IV, 5 percent for Dave Weldon and 3 percent for Mike McCalister. Abpout 350 attended the event, and 156 cast votes, organizers said.

In the state Senate District 17 primary, Rob Wallace outran Jim Norman by 47 percent to 36 percent, with 17 percent for John Korsak. The district includes large areas of Pasco County as well as Hillsborough.

The event, held at Medard Park in Plant City this afternoon, was sponsored by Republicans clubs from Brandon, Plant City and East Hillsborough.

Organizers contended it wasn’t just a vote-buying contest even though any attendee could cast a ballot for $5, because people were allowed to buy only one ticket.

LeMieux has won several such events even though he trails Mack distantly in polls of Republican voters. LeMieux has a base of support among a group of East Hillsborough GOP activists including former county party Chairman Debbie Cox-Roush.

Mack supporters say it’s easy for organizers to pack any such event with backers of one candidate, but LeMieux supporters say they show a realistic slice of how groups of Republicans feel.

LeMieux attended the event and spoke, as did Weldon and McCalister, while Mack didn’t, even though organizers originally announced he was coming.

One of the organizers, Jeff Lukens, said they believed either Mack or his father, former Sen. Connie Mack III, would come, but that it was never certain, and the organizers were told Tuesday neither was coming. Mack supporters said the candidate had family commitments; his sister, Debbie Caldwell of Pinellas County, was present and working the crowd for her brother, along with a couple of campaign staffers.

For Weldon, a former congress member from Melbourne who just entered the race Tuesday, it was one of his first campaign appearances. He acknowledged in an interview he’s starting into the race late and far behind in money and, compared to Mack, in name recognition, but said, “I believe conservatives will rally behind me.”

Weldon said when he retired from Congress in 2008, he didn’t expect to return to politics, but decided to enter this race because he believes conservatives aren’t happy with the current field of candidates. “I’ve had grass-roots people tell me they’re uncomfortable getting behind him,” he said of Mack.

LeMieux, who has made a point of showing up for even small gatherings of Republicans, has criticized Mack for missing the event.

---

Weldon jumps into Senate race

Posted May 18, 2012 by William March

Updated May 18, 2012 at 06:26 PM

Former Space Coast congressman Dave Weldon has announced he’s jumping into the tangled Republican U.S. Senate primary.

Weldon, a Melbourne physician, served seven terms in the House from 1995-2008, where he was known as a strong supporter of Israel and a zealous pro-lifer and social conservative. His website describes him as “a true, authentic conservative.”

In a news release announcing his candidacy, he attacked the Obama administration, not mentioning his GOP primary opponents or Democratic incumbent Sen. Bill Nelson, whom the primary winner will face in November.

“Someone has to do something to provide a Conservative answer to the problems the Administration has created and the current Senate has endorsed,” he said. “It’s time to stop the spending and balance the budget again. Together, we can change Washington – I helped do it once – and I can help do it again.”

Weldon campaign spokesman Hogan Gidley, a South Carolinian who’s fresh off the Rick Santorum presidential campaign, said Weldon differs from the current GOP Senate candidates because he offers “Authentic conservatism ... You need somebody out there who’s espousing conservatism. Right now we have two people in the race who by all accounts are fairly moderate,” referring to Connie Mack IV and George LeMieux.

His candidacy, however, further tangles the already confusing Republican Senate primary, which will produce a nominee to face Democratic incumbent Sen. Bill Nelson in November.

It comes as Rep. Connie Mack IV of Fort Myers appears to be solidifying his position as frontrunner, with an endorsement Wednesday from presumptive presidential nominee Mitt Romney. Former appointed Sen. George LeMieux trails, but is still waging a vigorous campaign.

Weldon will start off at a disadvantage, joining the race late and behind the other Republicans in fundraising, but may benefit from Republican dissatisfaction with the current field.

Gidley said Weldon is “well aware of the obstacles in his path,” but, “You can make up a lot of time and a lot of deficiencies with a great message and a great candidate. It just takes one spark to start a fire.”

He said Weldon isn’t wasting time, starting to campaign this weekend. He’s expected to attend a local Republican Party picnic Saturday at Medard Park in Plant City, which will include a straw vote in the Senate primary.

Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater last month announced he was considering jumping into the race, but decided against it.

Three other prominent Republicans, including state Senate President Mike Haridopolos, have dropped out of the race over the last year, and the current frontrunner, Rep. Connie Mack of Fort Myers, entered the race in November after have ruled it out last spring.

 

---