A CHANGE OF ENDORSEMENTS IN CFO RACE; CAMPBELL PICKS UP ONE FOR AG

Last week, I posted here that the Florida Chamber of Commerce had taken it's previously announced endorsement away from State Senator Alex Villalobos (R - Miami) in his reelection bid and given it to GOP primary challenger Frank J. Bolanos.

Now, another major organization has done the same thing, but in a statewide race.

According to Central Florida Political Pulse, the political blog of the Orlando Sentinel, the Fraternal Order of Police's Florida State Lodge has revoked it's endorsement away from Florida Senate President Tom Lee (R - Brandon) and has announced that it would support primary opponent State Representative Randy Johnson (R - Celebration) for Chief Financial Officer.

The FOP is one of two major police unions in Florida and represents 23,000 active and retired law enforcement officers. It's legislative committee chairman, Edgar Burroughs, said that Lee did not support the organization's primary legislation during this year's session in Tallahassee: bills changing disability standards and creating a law enforcement memorial vanity license plate.

The union had originally endorsed Lee last fall. It has posted it's letter to Lee notifying him of it's rescinding of the endorsement; check it out here.

Also, the FOP announced it's endorsement of State Senate Minority Leader Walter "Skip" Campbell, Jr. (D - Tamarac) for Attorney General at it's conference held last week at St. Pete Beach. The press release noted that delegates voted unanimously in favour of the endorsement, and mentioned that "his support of the FOP and law enforcement legislative agenda is well known and appreciated".