A GOVERNOR COULD NOW CONSOLIDATE HIS POWER WITHIN HIS PARTY'S LEADERSHIP

The Palm Beach Post political blog Q brings to light a clause in the 77 page elections bill which, among other things, would require counties to use optically scanned paper ballots as requested by Governor Crist. The clause in the Senate version of the bill, which passed and is now awaiting action in the State House, was added by Senator Lee Constantine (R - Altamonte Springs). It would allow the sitting governor to basically consolidate his control over his party's state executive committee by allowing the chief executive to add “10 Florida registered voters who are members of the party as appointed by the Governor if the Governor is a member of the party.”

The idea was no doubt inspired by what happened to Governor Crist when he supported Jim Greer to become state GOP chairman. Challenged by former chair Carole Jean Jordan along with friends and allies of former governor Jeb Bush, Greer barely won the post 102-89.