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Florida Gov. Charlie Crist spent his time in the gubernatorial seat loosening gun laws while lowering the cost of health care, making it more accessible for Florida residents. Crist, who endorsed Sen. John McCain in the 2008 presidential campaign, was reportedly one of the finalists for McCain's vice-presidential seat.
It took a while, but Gov. Charlie Crist finally got around to appointing a replacement for suspended Broward County Commissioner Josephus Eggelletion.
Albert C. Jones will be the new representative for District 9, a mostly African-American population in central Broward. Many concerned people in the area had urged Crist to appoint a black man to represent the area and replace Eggelletion, who was a voice for blacks issues on the commission.
It's not that Crist was unresponsive, but he was kind of busy dealing with the corrupt mess in Miami-Dade in recent weeks.
"I know how well he will serve, I know he will serve with honor and distinction and integrity and that is the most important issue before all of us right now," Gov. Crist said yesterday.
Eggelletion, along with several other political figures in Broward, was arrested in September for corruption and money laundering. He allegedly told disguised federal agents he could steer county contracts their way in return for kickbacks.
Unless Eggelletion is cleared of the charges against him, Jones will serve for the rest of Eggelletion’s unexpired term, which ends in 2012. If Eggelletion resigns from his seat, a special election will take place for his replacement.
Jones will leave his post as city commissioner in Dania Beach.
“It has been an honor to serve my community, and I consider it an incredible privilege to have the opportunity to now serve Broward County as a whole,” Jones said. “I look forward to doing what I can to move good governance forward.”