Why won't Crist appoint a Miami city commissioner?

Has criticism of his appointment of George LeMieux to the U.S. Senate made the governor appointment-shy? Charlie Crist said Friday he's likely to defer naming a commissioner to one of Miami's two vacant seats -- potentially sending the city into further tumult and bringing a costly election.The governor said he was ``not currently'' planning to appoint a replacement city commissioner and that the commission would have to choose replacements.``I think that's going to be the result,'' said Crist, who left the door slightly ajar, adding that his decision wasn't ``finalized yet.'' City Manager Pete Hernandez is desperately trying to avoid a likely low-turnout election that would cost the financially-strapped city over $500,000.

Full story here.  

Comments

[Soothsayer]

If ignorance is bliss, Ms. Reinhard should be in ecstasy. The Governor does NOT automatically appoint all kinds of vacancies.

Some (legislators, congressmen, etc) can only be filled by special election. Others can be filled by Governor's appointment on an interim basis or until the end of the elective term depending on when the vacancy occurs.Most municipalities allow the governing body itself to appoint replacements to fill vacancies. In fact, it's unusual for the Governor to appoint city commissioners.

As we've grown to expect, Miami has itself in a cluster here. However, it's not the Governor's responsibility to bail them out and it's certainly not his fault if you have to hold one of those tacky Special Elections so the people can actually vote on who their commissioner will be.

We realize that homework is beneath the dignity of a political writer at a big time newspaper unless, of course, she doesn't want to be known as slothfully ignorant.

[Yust askin]

Is "slothfully ignorant" better than "myopically pedantic"?

[David T]

Where is the new Mayor Regalado on all of this? Too busy firing the police chief?

[whasup]

The real reason Shucking Chuckles won't appoint a commissioner there is that he's afraid whomever he appoints will turn out to have serious political problems--corruption running rampant down there as it does--which will come back to bite him during his Senate campaign.

Even if he picks someone without serious problems, he'll alienate one, two or three blocks of Republican voters down there (who prefer another candidate), which he can't afford to do heading into the Republican primary.

Face it, Crist fans, he's an empty suit politician who is worried right now the winds are not blowing favorably for him.