Charlie Crist's First Choice in Lee County Is John E. Manning (Wink, Wink) ... Honest It Is!

John E. Manning of Cape Coral really is Gov. Charlie Crist's first choice to fill the vacant seat on the Lee County Commission. Honest he is. The governor's FIRST choice.

Isn't that right, Charlie (wink, wink)?

On Wednesday Crist appointed Manning to fill the vacancy created by the death of Lee County Commissioner Bob Janes four months ago. He had absolutely, positively no idea who he was going to appoint before he interviewed applicants for the position a few weeks ago.

Isn't that right, Charlie Crist (wink, wink)?

And isn't that right, Charlie Dauray (wink, wink)?

Wait a minute. Who's Charlie Dauray? He's on the South Florida Water Management District board, isn't he? Rumor was, Dauray -- a Lee County resident -- badly wanted to be Janes's replacement on the County Commission and he told the governor so. Rumor also was, Governor Charlie promised him the appointment if he would just cast his SFWMD vote for the Charlie-Crist-Everglades-U.S.-Sugar-Deal-Extension. Dauray did his part, too, voted the governor's way.

But doggone-it, there was a leak over at the Water Management District. Word of the bribe got out. And all of a sudden the deal was off.

Not a word of truth in any of it, the two Charlies said (wink, wink).

Furthermore, it was entirely coincidental that Dauray later changed his mind, decided he didn't want to be a county commissioner after all.

On Wednesday Crist praised Manning, 50, a consultant with the Fort Myers office of Malcolm Pirnie since 2000: "I am confident he is committed to ensuring Lee County continues to be a great community for families and businesses."

See? Everybody is happy for John E. Manning.

Wink, wink.