Besides outgoing Gov. Charlie Crist, there were three former governors attending Rick Scotts inauguration as the states 45th governor: Claude Kirk, who was elected in 1966; Bob Martinez, who won office in 1986; and Jeb Bush, who was elected in 1998 and 2002.
The other surviving former governors -- Reubin Askew, Bob Graham, Wayne Mixson and Buddy MacKay -- did not attend. The three former governors who did attend were Republicans; the four who did not were Democrats Martinez was seated at the podium behind new Attorney General Pam Bondi. Besides both coming from the Tampa Bay region, Martinez was an early backer of Bondi and served as a chair for her campaign Of course, not all the dignitaries had such fitting seat assignments and two potential political rivals sat very close to each other. Outgoing U.S. Sen. George LeMieux sat in the second row of dignitaries, ahead of Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island -- two members of a potentially crowded Republican field to take on Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in 2012 ...
The first part of the inauguration ceremony ran ahead of schedule. After Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll, Bondi, new CFO Jeff Atwater and Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Adam Putnam were sworn in, the 13th Army Band played before Scott took the oath of office. Country music singer Lee Greenwood, who sang God Bless the U.S.A. earlier in the ceremony, performed another song, and Irish tenor Ronan Tynan, who sang Amazing Grace at prayer breakfast earlier in the day, offered a rousing version of God Bless America. As Tynan left the stage, Bush stood up and walked over to shake the Irish singers hand While the inaugural took place just a week before the 150th anniversary of Florida seceding from the United States in the prelude to the Civil War, the Union cause seemed to be defeating the Confederacy at the inauguration. At both the prayer breakfast on Tuesday, as well as the actual inauguration, The Battle Hymn of the Republic was played. When the band played Dixie after playing songs for the various branches of the armed forces, the crowd gathered before the Old Capitol went very quiet Outgoing Gov. Charlie Crist and Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp sat in the first row with Scotts family. Crist appeared to be having a conversation with Esther Scott, the new governors mother, while Kottkamp talked to, amongst others, Chancellor Frank Brogan who was lieutenant governor under Bush
While none of the states Democratic former governors attended the inauguration, both House Democratic Leader Ron Saunders of Key West and House Democratic Leader Pro Tem Joe Gibbons of Pembroke Park were present at the event During the inagural, many people in the crowd hadtheir cameras and cell phones out to take pictures -- including some Florida politicians. Rep. Scott Plakon, R-Longwood, took pictures of Greenwood singing and Scott speaking and posted them online. Rep. Jimmy Patronis, R-Panama City, also posted photos he took during the ceremony online, including a photo of Putnam being sworn in Speaking of technology and communications changes, websites for the governors office and the Cabinet changed over on Tuesday afternoon to reflect the newly inaugurated officials
Besides the inaugural, Floridians remain busy in Washington as the new Congress prepares to convene, with Republicans controlling the U.S. House. Florida Republican U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan will head up the Friends of Panama caucus in Congress. While its not getting much attention, its not a bad assignment for Buchanan, especially with the Panama Canal expansion expected to be finished in 2014. The closest American port to the canal is Port Manatee and its in Buchanans district Dont write off U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultzs climb up the Democratic congressional ranks just yet. On Tuesday, it was announced that the South Florida representative will join U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas as vice chairs of the Democrats' Steering and Policy Committee in the U.S. House No word yet on who will head up the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense. Its no secret that U.S. Rep. Bill Young, the dean of congressional Republicans, wants to lead the committee and he is the favorite to head it up, but there has been no official word yet.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
