Crist Reiterates Stance on Behalf of Net Ban
David Adlerstein
Republican gubernatorial hopeful Charlie Crist's flight into Apalachicola Airport Saturday afternoon was his first time visiting Cape San Blas, but it was far from his first time influencing the politics of the Panhandle's coastal counties.
As a state senator from St. Petersburg, Crist sponsored the 1994 constitutional amendment commonly called the net ban that Floridians approved by a vote of nearly 3-to-1 and which in the last dozen years has drastically reduced, if not decimated, commercial fishing in the Wakulla, Franklin and Gulf counties region.
Since that time, and as recently as last year, Crist, now Florida's attorney general, has continued to advocate unequivocal backing for the law's provisions.
A telephone interview from his car Saturday afternoon, as he headed off to a fundraiser at the home of his friend, Tallahassee developer Hurley Booth, was no exception.
"I think it's really brought back our fishing stock in the state of Florida," he said. "It's transformed an industry from netting to angling. I'm glad we can save the resource for generations to fish in our state.
"I'm a Teddy Roosevelt Republican. I believe we have to be good stewards of our land and of our water," said Crist, as he took a moment to admire the sand dunes on his way to the Cape.
"It's beautiful here," he said. "This is the first time I've ever been to Cape San Blas and there's not many places I haven't been to in Florida."
Crist, 49, acknowledged the effect the net ban has had on commercial fishing here, but contended the ban has generated enhanced recreational fishing opportunities.
"I imagine there's less of it (commercial fishing)," he said. "It (the ban) has transformed an industry from commercial fishing to recreational angling and spawned marinas around the state."
On his website, Crist stresses that he opposed efforts last year "to lift important net ban regulations that continue to protect our sea life and habitats."
This opposition refers to the Florida attorney general's stance in 2005 against identical bills introduced by area legislators, Sen. Al Lawson (D-Tallahassee), and Rep. Will Kendrick (D-Carrabelle) that said nets made of specified materials, "regardless of mesh size, not exceeding 500 square feet, shall not be considered a gill or entangling net and may be used to harvest mullet in the waters of this state."
Neither bill passed, and Crist showed no sign he would modify his position if elected governor.
"I think that what's in the constitution needs to be enforced," he said, admitting that an all-out ban may not have been the best way to achieve the objective of reducing the commercial fishing sector's catch.
"I think it could have been avoidable if we had had better regulations instead of going the route of a constitutional amendment," he said.
Security, Tax Cuts, Education Highlight Agenda
Asked about affordable housing, Crist said he supported a plan now being circulated in Tallahassee to expand the Save Our Homes property tax cap of 3 percent annually, first approved by Florida voters in 1992. The law currently applies only to homestead exempt properties, meaning the assessed value jumps when a homeowner moves to a different house.
The proposed change under consideration would make the 3 percent cap portable, and possibly extend it to commercial properties and second homes, and Crist indicated supported for the idea.
"There's an awful lot of people hesitating to downsize or go into a larger home" because of the tax implications, he said. "(With this change) they wouldn't have a fear of skyrocketing property taxes. It would open an enormous amount of affordable housing, and be a huge boon for the real estate market reigniting to provide a lot of jobs. I believe that by making (Save Our Homes) portable, a lot of affordable housing will come on the market."
Crist said he is working with Florida's Republican junior senator, Mel Martinez, to try to achieve more federal support for affordable housing initiatives.
Crist said his priorities, if elected, would be to cut taxes, achieve safety and security for Floridians and boost support for education.
"Nobody will work harder for the people than Charlie Crist," he said, referring to himself, as he did in the brief handshaking he conducted at the Apalachicola Airport, as "Chain Gang Charlie," a nickname he earned in the Florida legislature for his sponsorship of tough criminal punishment bills. .
A backer of creating the state's charter schools, Crist stressed the need for "measurement and accountability" in education.
"I'm the only one who supported Gov. Bush in education. I'm a proud product of the public school systems, and I was commissioner of education," he said, adding that he supported improving pay rates for Florida teachers.
One place where Crist carefully deviated from his support of the governor is in the case of Terri Schiavo. The governor and several Republican state legislators intervened on behalf of the brain-dead Florida woman at the 11th hour in a desperate, and dramatic, legislative move to keep her alive despite her husband's decision and several judges' rulings.
"I supported the actions taken by the governor," said Crist. "Our office supported the office of general counsel in preparing briefs, and supporting his counsel in every way we could.
"No, I wouldn't have done it," he added, in reference to his position on the strategy the governor used one year ago to intervene in the end-of-life case.
Earlier this month, Crist came out in support of a complete constitutional ban on abortion, similar to that recently enacted in South Dakota, although he said he would include exceptions for rape, incest and saving the life of the mother.
"I encourage a culture of life," he said. "I would rather change hearts than change law."
Calls Panhandle GOP's "Victory Lane"
Crist's stop in Franklin and Gulf counties capped off a week of touring the Panhandle and visiting such places as Crestview, Chipley and Pensacola.
He said he first became aware of "Panhandle victory lane" when he worked for Republican senator Connie Mack in 1988. In one of the state's closest Senate races ever, Mack edged out Democratic representative Buddy McKay.
"I remember going to sleep at midnight (thinking Mack could lose)," Crist said. "Holmes, Okaloosa, that's what really brought it up."
Crist, who has so far raised more than $7 million in his bid to succeed Gov. Bush, will have to defeat Republican opponent Tom Gallagher, the state's chief financial officer, and the rest of the Republican field in the primary. The winner will go on to face either U.S. Rep. Jim Davis, of Tampa, or State Sen. Rod Smith of Alachua.
Crist said he would like to see his supporters who may be registered Democrats switch party affiliation to vote for him in the primary.
"Sure I'd love them for them to switch," he said. "I'd love to have their help in the primary and I would encourage them to do so. But if for reasons of their own they would rather stay in the (Democratic party), I will be disappointed but not deterred, and then work to earn their trust and confidence."
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