A Year With Charlie Crist

The Opinion Letter is framed. It was short and sweet, as it had appeared in the St. PetersburghTimes on Janurary 17, 2007. I submitted the letter upon the victory of Charlie Crist as the newly elected Governor of Florida. I wrote about “a sense of relief, anticipating some major changes in our daily lives”. The words of praise were heartfelt.

I hadn’t considered myself overly optimistic in my belief that he would resolve the hardships of homeowner insurance, property taxes and, perhaps the most important of all, education. This January, my disappointments are three-fold.

Although Amendment 1 passed the required 60% popular vote in the Florida Primary on Janurary 29th, it has very little positive affect on my personal property tax bill. My home insurance continued to rise after the Florida Legislature passed a bill that was supposed to actually lower the premium. Nothing has been done about education. Funding for schools is further in question because of sinking property values and the passage of Amendment 1.

Despite Governor Crist's shortfalls on his promises, my concerns are still dwarfed by my faith that his full term in office will provide a legacy of monumental proportions.

Another letter that adorns the wall in my den, dated January 20, 2007, overshadows my own. The glass-encased 8 ½ by 11 page bears the Great Seal of The State of Florida with the letterhead reading Charlie Crist, Governor. His signature accompanies the words “Thank you very much for your most kind words!”

Although my approval rating of the Governor is somewhat diminished, I maintain the belief that, in time, “he’ll earn the title of Superman – to me at least”.