Saying Floridians are ready to elect a conservative outsider," Rep. Jennifer Carroll completed the Republican gubernatorial ticket today.
Rick Scott's choice for lieutenant governor praised the billionaire's "private sector experience and a plan to create 700,000 jobs" as the running mates embarked on a fly-around through the state this morning.
"Rick and I share core conservative principles like lower taxes, less regulation, and smaller government. I look forward to campaigning with Rick against Alex Sink, Rod Smith and their liberal agenda," said Carroll, R-Jacksonville.
The first African-American Republican woman to be part of a statewide ticket in Florida, and the first to be elected to the Florida House, Carroll said she would work to lower taxes, reduce regulation, promote personal responsibility and expand personal freedom.
Conversely, Carroll said she opposes using stimulus money to paper over deficits, government control of health care and increased regulations such as cap-and-trade.
Scott hailed Carroll as the embodiment of the American Dream.
"Her conservative principles are in line with mine and ensures this fall will present a clear choice between conservatives with business experience and liberal Obamacrats who want to bring the failed Obama agenda to Florida," Scott said.
Born in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, West Indies, Carroll, like Scott, served in the U.S. Navy. Her career in uniform spanned 20 years, beginning in the enlisted ranks and working her way up to officer.
Carroll's four terms in the Legislature bring inside experience to the GOP ticket. And her selection was immediately applauded by fellow Republicans.
I congratulate Rick Scott on selecting my good friend Jennifer Carroll as his running mate," said U.S. Senate candidate Marco Rubio, who served as House speaker during a portion of Carroll's tenure there.
"As a Navy veteran, business owner, elected official and mother, Jennifer has always answered the call to serve our nation and state," Rubio said. He called Carroll "a trusted friend and colleague who represents everything that public servants should be, and I know she will be an asset to our next governor."
Before Scott's announcement, a Rasmussen survey reported that the Republican candidate led Sink 45-44. The poll was the first since independent Bud Chiles dropped out of the gubernatorial race.
Republicans were hopeful that Carroll's addition to the ticket will boost Scott's ratings among women and minorities, while bolstering his prospects in Carroll's home base of Northeast Florida.
Carroll also figures to shore up Scott's standing among social conservatives -- a group that largely held for Attorney Bill McCollum in the GOP primary.
Carroll, who calls herself pro-life, was a key supporter of Amendment 2,the Florida Marriage Protection Amendment, whichpassed by a popular voteof 61.9 percentin 2008.
Florida Family Policy Council President John Stemberger, who backed McCollum in the party's contentious and costly primary, suggested that Scott's choice would help to heal any lingering wounds from the hard-fought intramural battle.
"Icould not be morepleasedat the selection of Jennifer Carrollfor lieutenant governor as she is a true friend of the family," Stemberger said.
"I applaud Rick Scott forhis principled decision-making in selecting such a reliable social conservative as Jennifer Caroll as his running mate."
Carroll is married to Nolan Carroll of Miami. They have three children, including a son, Nolan, who was drafted by the Miami Dolphins this year.
Carroll, who ran twice unsuccessfully against U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown, D-Jacksonville, reportedly was on Charlie Crist's short list for Mel Martinez's U.S. Senate seat before the governor picked his longtime confidant, George LeMieux.
Carroll, who celebrated her 51st birthday Friday, was first elected to the Florida House in 2003. She served as majority whip 2004-2006 and chaired the House Economic Development Policy Committee last session.
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Contact Kenric Ward at kward@sunshinestatenews.com or at (772) 801-5341.
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