Crist Names Running Mate
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist has named Miami-Dade County’s Annette Taddeo as his running mate. This selection might help Crist, who is from the Tampa/St. Petersburg area, increase his appeal to South Florida voters, women and Hispanics. Although Crist faces a primary opponent in former Senate majority leader Nan Rich, the focus of this year’s gubernatorial election cycle is the anticipated ensuing matchup against Governor Rick Scott.
Crist praised Taddeo as a working mother and a small business owner. She also has served as chairwoman of the Miami-Dade County Democratic Party. Taddeo ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 2008, losing to U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. “She will make an excellent lieutenant governor because as a working mom she knows Florida families are struggling to pay their bills, raise their kids, and save for retirement — and because she believes, as I do, that all Floridians deserve a fair shot at success,” Crist said in a prepared statement.
Florida’s current Lieutenant Governor, Carlos Lopez-Cantera, also hails from Miami-Dade County. Governor Scott named Lopez-Cantera to the position earlier this year. He was the elected property appraiser for Miami-Dade County and previously served in the Florida House of Representatives.