Connie Mack Endorses Trey Radel to Fill His Congressional Seat

Rep. Connie Mack, R-Naples, on Tuesday endorsed Trey Radel to succeed him in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Mack, who was first elected to Congress in 2004, said in a statement: "Trey Radel is the perfect person to represent Southwest Florida in Washington."

Mack, who splits his time between Florida and California, where his wife, Mary Bono Mack, is a Republican congresswoman, called Radel "a trusted voiced in this community for years."

Radel, a former radio talk-show host, returned the compliment:

"I am extremely humbled and honored to receive the support of Congressman Mack," whom he called "our next U.S. senator from Florida." Mack is currently seeking the GOP nomination to face Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson.

More than a half-dozen Republicans are vying with Radel to fill Mack's congressional seat, including state Reps. Gary Aubuchon and Paige Kreegel; Chauncey Goss, who was endorsed by former Gov. Jeb Bush; and Brian Owens.

(For the record: Shortly after this item appeared, Mack spokesman David James wrote: "Do you have some knowledge of their marriage, I do not?? Unlike a lot of members of Congress, they spend time in D.C. together and go to their respective districts on the weekends. That was unlike George LeMieux who took his whole family to D.C. Connie's family is in Florida. How is that hard to understand? There is no factual basis for this cheap shot in your copy.)