Mitch Perry
A day after he announced his candidacy, former Florida Chief Financial Officer and vanquished CD 13 Democratic candidate Alex Sink is endorsing Charlie Crist in the race to succeed David Jolly in the Pinellas County congressional seat.
“Everyone knows how dysfunctional Washington is right now, only listening to themselves and fighting meaningless partisan battles,” Sink says in a prepared statement. “We need someone who will give a voice to the people and push out the special interests, and Charlie Crist will do that.”
Sink and Crist did find common cause at times when they served together in the Florida Cabinet from 2007-2011, something she alludes to in her endorsement.
“Charlie has fought for Democratic values, like expanding affordable healthcare coverage and restoring civil rights to nonviolent ex-felons. I know he’ll make sure the voices of Pinellas County will be heard in the halls of Congress. I’m proud to say I worked on the Florida Cabinet with Charlie for four years, and I know firsthand he is the right choice for the 13th District.”
Crist is running against Eric Lynn, the 37-year-old former Department of Defense official under President Barack Obama who has already raised more than $500,000 in the race, which has literally taken a new turn since the Florida Supreme Court’s ruling this summer that the district (along with seven others) was created in violation of the Fair Districts amendments passed by voters in 2010.
Formerly a swing-district that leaned slightly Republican, the new district will encompass South Pinellas County, a treasure trove of Democratic voters.
Sink’s endorsement matches the earlier endorsement that Lynn received from St. Pete Mayor Rick Kriseman earlier in the day.
Sink was the Democratic nominee in early 2014 in the special election that followed the death of longtime CD 13 representative C.W. Bill Young. She lost a close contest to Republican David Jolly.
