(h/t Jimdotz)
Charlie Crist has picked George LeMieux to replace Mel Martinez in the Senate.
Gov. Charlie Crist chose trust and loyalty Friday over Washington experience or potential political gain in choosing former chief of staff George LeMieux to replace Republican U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez.
State Rep. Jennifer Carroll, who was considered for the position, said Crist told her he is choosing LeMieux. LeMieux is Crist’s closest political adviser and the governor’s pick shows he wants someone who thinks like him to hold the Senate seat Crist hopes to win in the November 2010 election.
As LeMieux said after interviewing for the position: “I’m a Charlie Crist Republican.”
LeMieux served as deputy attorney general under Crist and left that job to run Crist’s 2006 campaign for governor. Once elected, Crist picked LeMieux to serve as chief of staff. LeMieux left the position in December 2007 and has since worked for the Tallahassee law firm Gunster, Yoakley & Stewart.
So, looks like a placeholder.
I hope that means he’ll side with the Dems on close votes. However I don’t think he will.