From Tallahassee reporter Catherine Dolinski: Bill McBride made a longawaited trip to the inauguration dais this year, but as a spouse instead of an officer.

McBride, who ran unsuccessfully for governor against Jeb Bush in 2002, accompanied his wife, Alex Sink, to the podium for her official swearing in as the state’s new chief executive officer. 

Jacksonville Circuit Court Judge Charles Arnold, Jr. administered the oath – which he topped off with a few choice words for Sink’s other half: 

“Mr. McBride, you may kiss the chief financial officer.”

Which he did.

Afterward, a smiling Sink explained to reporters that both Arnold and his wife are actually old friends of the family, going back to McBride’s days at the University of Florida during the 1960s.

“It was really meaningful to me to have a close personal family friend be able to swear me in today.”

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