Questions on port issues, employment and taxes dominated Gov. Charlie Crists town hall meeting Friday at Florida State College at Jacksonvilles South Campus.
Though the governor came to Jacksonville to talk about legislation, he also faced questions about his U.S. Senate campaign.
Im not concerned with the polls, Crist said, when asked about recent polls released by Public Policy Polling and Insider Advantage/Florida Times Union showing him losing to former House Speaker Marco Rubio by more than 30 percentage points.
The governor also said Republicans were not distancing themselves from him despite the polls. He dismissed rumors about leaving the GOP to continue his campaign as an independent. When asked if he was considering switching parties, Crist said, Absolutely not.
When asked what concerns he is hearing from Floridians, Crist said, The economy and jobs, no doubt about it.
Though this was the first town hall meeting that Crist held since May 2009, the crowd was sparse with around 100 people in attendance.
Not many politicians showed either. Besides the host of the event, Rep. Lake Ray, R-Jacksonville, who has not endorsed a candidate for the U.S. Senate primary, the only other prominent political figure in attendance was Rep. Charles McBurney, R-Jacksonville.
Noticeably absent were state GOP chief Sen. John Thrasher, R-Jacksonville, whose district includes the meeting's venue, and Mayor John Peyton.
Crist and Ray took questions about port issues. Ray spoke on two port bills in the House -- HB 963, which streamlines the process allowing new companies to use the 14 ports in Florida, and HB 1169 that establishes the Florida Ports Investment Corporation, which will oversee using tax credits to lure new business to the states ports.
Crist offered strong endorsements of both of Rays bills, neither of which has made it to committee yet. This is a critical issue for Florida, and the administration will do whatever it takes to help, Crist said.
Crist also said that the Florida ports need to be ready for larger ships after the Panama Canal is expanded to accommodate larger ships.
With 550,000 jobs in the port industry, Crist and Ray said that luring new port jobs would help put Floridians back to work.
If there was ever a time to step it up in terms of economic development," Crist said, "its now when people need jobs, jobs, jobs. These bills will reduce unemployment in Florida.
Joseph Brown, president of the Florida State Harbor Pilots Association, said he was impressed with Rays and Crists commitment to Floridas ports. The port legislation would be great for Florida and make us competitive. Unlike some states, which have just one port, we have 14. This bill will provide for all of them.
Crist took questions about the states highest unemployment rate since 1975. Talking about the 11.9 percent unemployment rate that came out on Wednesday, Crist said, Its a lot lower than Michigans but a lot higher that we want.
The governor said despite the unemployment number, he feels the economy is turning around. There's more money coming into the state treasury than we've seen in four years, he said. Thats great news. The state gets most of its revenue from the sales tax, which means were seeing more consumer confidence.
Crist attributed the fact that home sales are up 31 percent this year when compared to last year as another sign that the economy is improving in Florida.
There is still a lot of fear and angst out there, Crist said. But, there is a stabilization and the market shows this.
When asked if he would support the fair tax proposal, a measure to eliminate the income tax and replace it with a national tax on retail sales, Crist ducked, mentioning only his tax cutting experience.
I will lower taxes, Crist said, noting that he had signed the largest tax cut in Floridas history.
Jim Stehr, a community coordinator in Duval County for Americans for Fair Taxation, was not impressed with Crists response. He is a politician, he said. I dont know what his position is on the fair tax.
Crist talked about other federal financial matters, calling himself a fiscal conservative in the mold of former U.S. Senator Connie Mack. Crist said he hoped the death tax would be completely eliminated.
The first bill I will sponsor if elected to the U.S. Senate will be to eliminate earmarks, he said.
The governor also took questions on health care. A newly naturalized citizen, who had practiced medicine in Canada, asked about federal health care and referred to socialized medicine.
Thats not what we want, Crist said. What the president wants to do is exactly wrong.
Crist said the Cover Florida legislation that he signed into law in 2008 was an excellent model for governments role in health care.
Cover Florida provides a Chinese menu of different options of health care, he said. We need to provide the Florida way on health care, which means no government mandates, no taxes, a free market approach. Washington can learn a lot from our Florida.
Jacksonville and Northeast Floridaare political battlegrounds. Both Crist and Rubio have made appearances in the area recently.
Crist took a shot at Rubio at the event. When someone in the crowd said he liked Crists haircut, the governor said that it only cost $10 including tip, a contrast to the $130 Rubio spent at a salon on a RPOF credit card.
After the town hall meeting, Crist headed up to Amelia Island for the Nassau County GOP Lincoln Day dinner.
Rubio appeared at the Ponte Vedra Beach Republican Lincoln-Reagan Day dinner last month and campaigned in Jacksonville on Wednesday. He received an enthusiastic reception.
