(Florida) State Rep. Kendrick switches to GOP

[Freddie Stubbs]

By Bill Cotterell
FLORIDA CAPITAL BUREAU POLITICAL EDITOR

Maverick state Rep. Will Kendrick of Carrabelle, who has bucked the Democratic Party on some key votes during his six years in the Legislature, startled party members Monday by becoming a Republican.

''I just saw how the political climate was going,'' said Kendrick. ''If I was a professional, full-time politician, or planned to be around here a while, this probably wouldn't be a real good move for me.''

Although Republicans lost two congressional seats in Florida on Nov. 7, and a third is being contested in court, the state GOP largely dodged the anti-incumbency and anti-Republican trends that cost the party control of Congress. Gov.-elect Charlie Crist won easily and Republican Bill McCollumn will succeed Crist as attorney general, although Democrats won the chief financial officer's Cabinet post and gained seven seats - now six - in the Florida House.

Kendrick said Crist carried eight of the 10 counties he represents in a rural and coastal section of the Panhandle and Big Bend. He said he ''has had some philosophical differences'' with the Democrats over his six years in the Legislature and 14 on the Franklin County school board, and felt he could be more effective in his final two years in the House as a Republican.

more: http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061121/CAPITOLNEWS/611210341/1010/NEWS01&GID=hdsBgaGRm7uNItVoqS5q6SLML/zXFRk0b555eWfFe9Y%3D

[msongs]

1. he should be sued for fraud by voters in his district nt

[stuartrida]

2. That is very deceptive.

He was running unopposed I believe.

[Judi Lynn]

3. It's a dirty trick, all right. Dishonest. The voters thought they were getting

a Democrat.

In Kansas we had some Republicans who were NOT IN OFFICE in the positions they were aiming for, and they changed their affiliation from the Republican to the Democratic Party BEFORE they began their campaigns.

Seems the only honest way to do it!

Honesty has never seemed a vital feature to Republicans, has it?

[aquart]

5. Why should Republicans oppose their own man?

Florida laws enable this behavior.

[Judi Lynn]

7. He also cheated the Democrats out of the opportunity to run a real Democrat. n/t

[tabasco]

10. Ummmm....

Perhaps he would have been opposed if they knew he was going to switch?

[BR_Parkway]

4. Can he be recalled?

[Freddie Stubbs]

9. No

[melissinha]

6. Excuse me, didn't Jeffords do this?

And it was on May 26, 2001, a few months into that term... Though changing to Independent is very different... I seem to think that when we see Republicans going Democratic its ok, but the reverse is not ok?

I'm just saying....

But I do think that disclosure is respectful to the voters.. One of the two times I have voted for a Republican candidate was because I knew the Democratic candidate was Republican who couldn't get the GOP nomination besides she was an idiot...

[Judi Lynn]

8. The idiots in public life I've seen are ALL Republicans.

I doubt you'll make a lot of friends among Democrats telling them the Democrat was too stupid to be a Republican.

If a politician is genuinely impaired mentally, he/she WILL be a Republican.

[melissinha]

15. actually College Democrats openly campaigned against her

It wasn't that she was too stupid to be a Democrat, she was too stupid to realize that everyone would see through her BS... besides it was a real local race...

[The Count]

11. Jeffords did it MONTHS not days after election - after public humiliation from W

It was clear from the circumstances that he didn't plan on it, election time. The deceptive part here is where this guy pulled a LePore ("Dems did the butterfly ballot") on the voters.
There was no shattering event in his life since the elections to justify this - therefore it is a dirty trick.

[melissinha]

14. so doing it 6 months after the election makes it alright?

I mean that was 6 months into the term, we have no way of knowing that de didn't intend on doing it before...

Hey, I'm with you guys, that would PISS ME OFF if one of my state reps did that, absolutely... I'm just saying that we can't be too harsh.... because are all too happy to celebrate when Republicans go the other way.... that being said... I can't see why the political climate would spur this guy to Republican and now seeing the results of the elections nationwide, it is quite odd... maybe this guy is a true politician, out for himself.

[Judi Lynn]

16. He left because he was abused by the President, humiliated publicly,

in his own home state, when _Bush campaigned in Vermont, went all over the place and never shared the stage with him, contrary to protocol.

He was also shoved around after a point by Republican Senators due to his vote with Democrats on environmental and abortion issues.

They were EXCESSIVELY VICIOUS to him, and EVERYONE KNEW IT. The very idea he lasted that long is miraculous. It showed a very deep sense of committment to his party, and to the voters. It was only after a lot of thought that he ever left. Everyone is well aware of that fact.

[The Count]

19. The difference is in the intention: Jeffords didn't plan to screw his voters

at election time. he was going to stay what he was elected to be - until W made it impossible for him to do so.(he publicly dissed him on a visit to Vermont/ or Vermont event in DC - besides objectionable policies to Jeffords)
This Florida guy was a mole from the get go.
I also remember polls taken after jeffords' switch - not a whole lot of disappointment there. In fact, a lot of cheers on his announcement! That was a principled decision, and voters got it - as opposed to a smoked filled room coup.

[bluestateguy]

12. He saw how the political climate was going?

Was he asleep on election day?

[GregW]

13. This just happened in the Montana senate - but the other way

Where was all the gnashing of teeth from DUers then?

:shrug:

[Judi Lynn]

17. Which DU'ers are gnashing their teeth?

I didn't see it on this thread.

On edit:

Why don't you provide the information needed to understand there is a parallel situation in Montana if you want to discuss it. Should be interesting.

[michreject]

18. I remember that thread

It was a few days ago. I don't recall any outrage.

[retread]

20. I think his time is up after this term(term limits). He will make the switch now

then be on Easy Street with a fat salary when he is done.