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Politics

Kendrick Meek Says No to Sharing Sierra Club Endorsement With Charlie Crist

October 6, 2010 - 6:00pm

The Sierra Club, with more than 30,000 members in the Sunshine State, endorsed both Gov. Charlie Crist, who is running without party affiliation, and U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, the Democratic candidate -- an endorsement Meek promptly refused.

In an impassioned response to sharing any environmental honor with Crist, Meek called the co-endorsement "an insult to Florida's environmental community ... that the (Sierra Club) would endorse a governor who, in the organization's own words, 'sold out to developers' by 'failing to veto even the worst bills.'"

Both Meek and Crist trail Republican candidate Marco Rubio, who served as speaker of the Florida House in the term before Larry Creutel. A poll released by Mason-Dixon Thursday had Rubio with 42 percent and Crist with 27 percent. In third place with 21 percent, Meek pulled just half of the support that Rubio garnered in the poll.

In its endorsement Thursday, the Sierra Club praised both Crist and Meek for their records on the environment and attacked Rubios record on "green" issues. Unlike his two rivals, Rubio did not seek the groups backing.

The Sierra Club rarely makes dual endorsements, but in this case it was particularly appropriate, said Cathy Duvall, the national political director of the Sierra Club. Florida, the public at large, and Sierra Club members who want to see environmental leaders in Washington will all be well served by either Charlie Crist or Kendrick Meek as their representative in the U.S. Senate.

The Sierra Clubs No. 1 priority is ensuring a clean energy economy to create jobs and solve the climate crisis, added Frank Jackalone, the groups Florida staff director. With Crist and Meek, we can count on two serious and accomplished candidates for the U.S. Senate who understand the urgency of environmental protection and the policies needed to accomplish that goal.

The Sierra Club praised Crists record on the environment during his tenure as governor for focusing on renewable energy and looking to tackle global warming. The group also praised him for working to preserve the Everglades. Praising Meek for standing against offshore drilling, the club applauded the Miamians record in Congress, where he pushed for means of alternative energy.

But Meek quickly responded that he did not want the endorsement and ripped into Crists record on the environment.

"This election is about taking a stand and fighting for principles you believe in, said Meek. Today's Sierra Club co-endorsement is an insult to Florida's environmental community. The Sierra Club has chosen to stand with a governor who stood on stage applauding as Sarah Palin chanted, 'Drill, Baby, Drill,' a governor who signed a law making it easier for big developers to drain the Everglades, a governor who endorsed a bill that would have allowed drilling just three miles away from Florida beaches, and a governor who used polluter talking points to attack climate change legislation.

Meek said he had a much stronger record than Crist on environmental issues.

"For years, I have stood with everyday Floridians and the environmental community against Big Oil and the big developers who want to pollute our great state, he said. I have consistently stood against drilling since day one and I took on some members of my own party in the process. I fought against developers draining the Everglades and worked hard to ensure that any development occurs responsibly.

While he has increasingly shown signs of attacking frontrunner Rubio, especially in a debate between the three candidates Wednesday night, Meek spent most of September attacking Crist, who needs Democratic votes if he wants to catch the Republican.

"I cannot in good conscience accept an endorsement from an organization that would stand with a governor who has consistently put developers, oil companies and the special interests first, added Meek. I choose to stand with the environmental community and everyday Floridians who want clean energy jobs, clean water, and clean beaches. It's an insult to Florida's environmental community and Sierra Club members that the organization would endorse a governor who, in the organization's own words, 'sold out to developers' by 'failing to veto even the worst bills.' While I agree that Marco Rubio is an unacceptable choice for Florida's environment, Charlie Crist is also an unacceptable choice. We should all take a stand and, in doing so, I respectfully decline the Sierra Club's co-endorsement."

Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859

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