Former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux unveiled his finance team Monday, which he hopes will help him win the Republican nomination in 2012 and the ability to take on the Democratic incumbent U.S. senator, Bill Nelson.
I am thankful to earn the support of these great Floridians and humbled by their investment in my campaign, LeMieux said. I am especially honored to have the support of these business leaders and job creators who know the leadership it will take to get our economy moving in the right direction."
LeMieuxs team includes some veterans of political fund-raising and finance, including Joseph Fogg, who was the national finance chairman of Bob Doles presidential bid back in 1988, a national vice chairman of Phil Gramms attempt at the Republican nomination back in 1996, and Rudy Giulianis Florida finance chair in 2008.
The new team includes some familiar faces from Florida politics, such as Mike McCormick, the CEO of the Magazine Manager, who co-chaired Jeff Atwaters finance team in 2010, and Miami-Dade County school board member Carlos Curbelo. Other members include Peter Rummell, the former president and CEO of the St. Joe Co.; Boca Raton businesswomanand Republican activist Yvonne Boice; Rob Gidel, the managing partner of Liberty Partners LLC in Orlando; and Steven McCraney of Palm Beach Gardens who is the president and CEO of the McCraney Property Co.
Rick Michaels, the CEO of Communications Equity Associates and the finance chairman of Tom Gallaghers CFO bid back in 2002, also joined LeMieuxs team.
We have seen George in action and are impressed with his solid, fiscally conservative record during his short time in the United States Senate, said Michaels on Monday. We know his record of standing up against wasteful spending is the leadership Florida needs now.
LeMieux, who has been trying to stress his conservative fiscal record from his 16-month tenure in the U.S. Senate, attempted to reinforce his credentials on financial matters Monday.
As your senator, I will never waver in my commitment to fighting earmarks, balancing the federal budget, ending the deficits and cutting the debt, insisted LeMieux.
LeMieux is part of an increasingly crowded field of candidates looking to challenge Nelson. Other candidates include state Senate President Mike Haridopolos, former state House Majority Leader Adam Hasner, businessman and retired Army officer Mike McCalister who ran for governor in 2010, former congressional candidate Bill Fisher, businessman and former congressional candidate Ron McNeil, engineer and businessman Ron Rushing and physician Mirand Sharma. Republicans still considering entering the race include U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, former congressional candidate and Ruth's Chris CEO Craig Miller, and businessman Nick Loeb who ran for the Legislature in 2010.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
