So you wanna keep your government job?

It looks like roughly half of Gov. Jeb Bush's agency heads might have a shot if Charlie Crist's transition team looks at political loyalty as any guide.

Buzz found eight of Bush's appointees gave money to the Crist campaign -- though nearly all of them waited until after Crist's slugfest with Tom Gallagher was over to even step into the fray, including Christa Calamas at AHCA, Tom Lewis at DMS, Warren McPherson of Veterans Affairs, Lucy Hadi of DCF, James McDonough of Corrections and Colleen Castille of DEP.

But two deserve special mention: Christopher Knight at Highway Patrol was a supporter early on, and the most generous, giving a combined $1,000 since March. And Thaddeus Cohen at Community Affairs, we're not sure what he was thinking. On Oct. 18, he gave Crist $500. On Oct. 26, he gave Democratic rival Jim Davis $500, too.

This little exercise also highlighted the incredible irregularites in the data submitted by campaigns. Only three of the eight donors (Castille, Hadi and McDonough) were listed as "state employees" and Knight was listed as "law enforcement."

Cohen was listed as an architect (which he is) and as retired (which he isn't). McPherson's occupation was "management." Calamas was listed as an attorney (which she is). And Lewis, as an "insurance executive," which as far as Buzz knows, the former Disney executive and former Graham administrator has never held THAT particular occupation. Oh, we should also mention that frequently, the occupation field was blank altogether.

Comments

Looks bad for Thaddeus - oops - darn disclosure reports.

Today's Palm Beach Post is reporting that Colleen plans to leave in January

and don't forget that Colleen worked for Tom Gallagher as a cabinet aide for several years. Not surprising she would be torn.

Any way you slice it, this kind of crap looks bad. This is what Republicans fought against for 30 years in Tallahassee, when Dem agency appointees actually worked on campaigns and contributed to Graham, Chiles and even McKay in 98. Jesus, now we're becoming just like the Democrats.

No appointed state employee should ever be able to make a political contribution to a cabinet official. Period.

[politicalspectator]

Why didn't I think of that? Damn! I want to buy a job, too!

These folks just dont give on their own. they get calles from campaign people, folks, asking them to give.

I think this is shameful to ask an apointee to contribute to the incumbebt's policital party or the candidates.

Hoesnt this violate the Hatch Act?

All I ask is that they clean out any Gallagherites that haven't already found new jobs.

[Mike]

That darn 10/23 Quinnipiac pole really threw Cohen off.

[tom]

Yeah, I guess his occupational listing was just planning for the future.

Gallagher's people are all trying to work for Laura at the Family Association.

Its going to be great when Kevin McCarty sends his resume!!!!!!!!!

12:07 -- agency heads are residents of this state and are free to give to any candidate they damn well please. This is America afterall and SCOTUS has ruled that contributions are free speech.

No one forces anyone to give.

[great one]

Good Riddance. Cohen really sucked as DCA secretary. He never cared about Growth management. He never fixed the CDBG program, which is among the worst mismanaged programs at the state level. He bungled his relationship with Florida Housing. And, worst of all, he tried to ride herd and politicize on Emergency Management (thank God Jeb stopped that)

[Gene Smith]

How about the state emulates the Feds and requires that the employer be listed?

I'm looking forward to the announcements of the key positions within the Governor's office and the agencies. That will give us a solid understanding of Charlie's vision for Florida's future.

No appointed state employee should ever be able to make a political contribution to a cabinet official. Period.

Posted by: | November 17, 2006 at 12:07 PM

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Familiar with the First Amendment?