CROSSING PARTY LINES

Not a great deal of attention is usually paid to the Chief Financial Officer's race, but a couple of announcements during the past couple of days deserve note as the two candidates for the post received endorsements from across party lines.

Democrat Alex Sink, a retired banking executive, picked up the endorsement of Republican Bob Milligan, who served as Florida's State Comptroller (which is what the CFO was formerlly known as) for two terms.

He said in the announcement:

"There is no doubt in my mind that with her 25 years of financial leadership experience, Alex Sink is the most qualified candidate to be Florida's next chief financial officer. I'd rather have an experienced banker and businesswoman watching over my money than a politician anyday."

Meanwhile, State Senate President and GOP nominee for the post Tom Lee of Brandon got the endorsement of former Agriculture and Consumer Services Secretary Bob Crawford of Winter Haven, a lifelong Democrat.