Crist cancels inaugural ball following criticism

Gov. Elect Charlie Crist decided Saturday to cancel plans (full story) for a costly inaugural ball, saying he made a mistake in approving a plan asking for donations of up to $500,000 to pay for inaugural events (read previous story).

“I made a mistake, and yes, it was a doozy,” Crist said.

Instead of capping off Inauguration day January 2 with a fancy ball, Crist said he’ll go ahead with plans to have a prayer breakfast and open the governor’s mansion to the public.

Last week the Times reported that Republican donors were asked to make donations of $50,000, $100,000 or $500,000 to gain tickets, autographed photos of Crist, engraved cuff links and a silk tie commemorating the event.

“Upon reflection, it doesn’t feel right to me when there are people having trouble paying their insurance bills and making ends meet,” Crist told a St. Petersburg Times reporter. “When I was a child, my grandfather told me every pencil has an eraser for a reason. It’s a good lesson, I’m not perfect.’’

Crist said he will send back the large contributions already made, and limit contributions to something in the range of those collected by Gov. Jeb Bush. Bush set a $5,000 limit for his first inaugural in 1999, and upped it to $10,000 for his second one four years later.

Crist said he’ll use the money to defray any expenses for other activities associated with his inauguration, but said he doesn’t know yet what the total cost will be.

Donations posted on Crist’s campaign web site, www.charliecrist.com, indicate his inaugural team already collected $265,000, including a $100,000 contribution from Trigeant Air, a Boca Raton aviation company and $50,000 each from U.S. Sugar and The Geo Group, a private prison company.

The committee also received $25,000 each from A. Duda & Sons, a large agriculture company, and Colodny, Fass, Talenfeld, Karlinsky, Abate, a law firm in Fort Lauderdale with insurance clients.

Crist’s decision came as some Floridians raised questions about the expenditure of so much money for a party and on the day a Times columnist questioned the tone the huge contributions would set in his new administration (read column).

— LUCY MORGAN, Times Senior Correspondent

Comments

I guess the st pete times is the real shadow ruler!

We're going to need a lot of erasers over the next 4 years!

Great start letting the press run things.

I guess the St. Petersburg Times holds the veto pen for the next eight years.

What a terrible signal to send - when are the shirts coming out that say "Ask Steve Bousquet?"

He's a good man. No big deal all the other events will go on as planned. About 1500 guys just got a break not having to put on the monkey suit.

[Bakunin]

The plan was flawed from the start due to the shocking numbers involved. It was easy fodder to press types-- Bousquest and Fineout in particular-- who are given to overstatement to the point of hyperbole to start with and who don't feel overly bound by the facts. Ballard and whoever else came up with the plan did CC a huge disservice to start with and he compounded it by blinking when the press jumped on him.

Interesting that Lucy got the story instead of Bousquet-- he's probably at an al Jazeera seminar on slanting the news (as an instructor). Come back, Lucy-- we miss you. More important, the St Pete Times' reputation for credible journalism misses you far more.

I have been (and remain) a loyal Crist supporter, and did my part to help get him elected. But the decision to go for a lavish inaugural celebration at this particular time was a mistake, and I'm glad my next governor recognizes this. Would I have rather he (and those organizing the inaugural events) recognized it from the start, and avoided this p.r. misstep? Of course. But I would rather have a governor who is willing to recognize when a mistake has been made, and fix it. This was all a bit inartful, but ultimately the right decision was made -- and by the guy who in the end is supposed to make those decisions. And that's what really counts.

It's the right thing to do & I'm glad C.C. did it. He was faced with a "you can't have it both ways" situation, and the default has to be maintaining his "man of the people" reputation. le The sheer numbers of what was being proposed belied that. This decision shows a politician willing admit a mistake(a rarity) and will mitigate the damage.

Some of the above comments are attacking the messenger rather than the Governor-elect, who is the one responsible for the fundraising idea to begin with and the one who decided that it was ill-advised.

I think something else occurred under the radar, perhaps disgust related by the some of the funders or potential funders of the events.

I sure hope that a lot more erasers will not be needed the next four years - but we shall see.

Imagine that -- a politician who admits making a mistake.

This is absolutely shocking.

Steve Bosquet seems to be carrying around a box of erasers. Is he going to erase enough votes to make jim davis governor? If I find an eraser, I might just erase his stories.....

[GOPFL]

Governor Bush had a ball at both inaugurals and did it with maximum contributions of 5K and 10K respectively. The other events were all free. The ball was reasonable at $100. The decision to cancel the ball was disappointing because they are a fun way to celebrate the transition. I also didn't understand the outrage over the 500K max contribution.

I think Charlie is going to make sure that the people who around him are the right people and have the ability to give him wise counsel. Their is no room for "Yes People".

Here's a tip for all you special interest types. Send in your $500,000 checks federal express for Monday. You get the credit and they have to return them.

Same thing for everyone who gave to the Republican Party. Ask for the difference back now we're on the slippery slope.

Decemeber 09, 2006 at 5:34 PM?

Reponse: Just does not like facts.

GOPFL at 5:51 PM:

Then you will never understand the problems with lots of money and public policy making.

You are apparently unable to be outraged by anything.

6:07 PM:

I certainly agree with not having all or mostly "Yes" staff.

Look what that has done to President George W. Bush.

[GOPJR]

This is a complete joke. I cannot believe the Crist camp is balking just b/c of some pressure from the St. Liberal Times. Who really cares is there was big party, after all, the Mayor of St. Pete had a huge party. Lots of people worked really hard for this event, and it was probably the thing I was looking forward to the most. What a shame, this is a sign of weakness. Charlie should be able to have his party, after all, everyone had been working for over 2 years to have this, and now when the St. Liberal Times rases a eyebrow, the Crist camp folds. Come on guys, I know we have more backbone than that-

6:32PM:

He is the "Peoples Governor", integrity in government.

Big deal he is getting rid of the ball? Just dont cancel that prayer breakfast! Next reporters will object to that. Get a life guys..

No Ball(s)

[Todd Miller]

The reporter is just stating the facts! How can Mr Crist have a ball accepting these huge donations, when there are people losing their homes to the same shady lads(insurers hiding behind lawyers)? Canceling only to save face! I just hope he takes care of the voters in the long run and not side with the insurance crooks!Think before using that pencil!

what's the big deal?

there's either going to be a ball that people pay 100 bucks to attend or not.

the world is not going to end by charlie canceling it.

I woonder how long before the crist staffer leaves? Bad plays so far.

Bowing to the Saint Petersburg Times when they endorsed your opponent. Can someone please explain that?

Bowing to the Saint Petersburg Times when they endorsed your opponent. Can someone please explain that?

What staffer?

Who cares?

What staffer?

this is a ruse to be able to watch the Orange Bowl. Men stink!

Charlie is a very smart man. Lets give him his due. He did the right thing and probably upset many of his friends. Good move Governor!

ACC rules go watch the bowl game losers.

[Fran]

Whether you agree or disagree, I like that Charlie changed his mind for good reasons. That shows character that we'll see the next four years. Flexibility in plans is important.

[terminator]

Kudo's to Charlie for realizing his mistake and rectifying it.

Too bad for the sychophants with their obscene contributions who were hoping to have a field day with the Governor Elect.

Let's go Charlie, the people's Governor!

I heard that the real reason was that Crist's boyfriend was throwing a hissy fit because he wasn't going to be able to wear the gown and tiara to the festivities.

[the shadow]

Eat it Gene! Lets fight!

8:26PM

Some staffer's are unable to play at this level.

Blaming staffers and organizers is the response from petty, jealous people.

Who gives a flying frack?

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Hope your happy Lucy and Steve..... first governor not to have an inaugural ball. You all make me sick. So righteous!! Blah, blah, blah. Why don't you go back to reporting news instead of making. Leave the citizens of Florida alone. I wrote a check and it's none of your business!! Again, you make me sick.

[Alibaba]

Bad Move #1.

What's Next? I say pathetic Secretarial Appointments...

[Katherine Harris]

This is awful.

I am not returning my dress. Not, Not, Not!

Charlie plans to appoint me to be head of DOB. This was going to be my big announcement of acceptance night. Damn it Charlie, we're perfect for one another. What happened to us? Now this. I can't take it. I'm going to the Ball anyway...even if I have to pretend!

Say staff changes in the next two years.

9:26PM:

must be a staffer that refuses to be accountable for poor advice, hint accountabilty equals integrity, please follow Charlie's lead.

Let me get this straight:The Press focuses on the "lavish" and "ritzy" ball in making their case as to the excesses in Special Interest fundraising. In fact and at $100 a ticket, the ball was the only event in the plan that was probably self-sustaining or even profitable. On the other, it seems perfectly acceptable to the Press for the same Special Interests to fund "free" events like barbecues and breakfasts.

Looks like Special Interest money's evil when it goes (or is perceived to go) to balls but transmorgifies into good when it goes to "free" food for the public. Press Logic. Pretty stupid to the rest of us (unless you remember that the Press can now go and gorge themselves at the "public" events because the food is "free."

[zenator]

Dear Governor elect:

No matter what you now do the press will criticize you. But, once you announce a decision, generally it is better to move forward otherwise people will percieve you as weak and then you are DOA...

In just a few weeks, you will need to take the lead on insurance. Sorry, but there is no easy solution that will make everyone happy and solve the hurrricane problem with a ninimum of pain. No matter what happens, some of the people will be unhsppy and all of the press will savage you.

Welcome to your new world where it is better to be feared than regarded as a nice guy condemned to finish last

I am not happy with my insurance premiums, but I don't begrudge the Governor-Elect his fancy Ball. Especially if it not paid for with MY money. I think the vast majority of people would agree.

I DO, however, think it bodes very badly for Florida in the next 4 years when the Governor backs down at the first sign of controversy. What is he going to do when someone who holds REAL power, like say the President of the Senate or the Speaker of the House confront him? Back down? So much for getting any of his "ideas" enacted.

Lucy Morgan, and Steve Bosquet, bad for st. petersburg, bad for florida just plain bad. lucy, thought you retired, can't stand not causing problems? Well let me tell you, this is your legacy. Lucy Morgan's mighty pen trumped tradition for the people of Florida!!

Shame that CC took away the opportunity for the various fat cats to parade around acting terribly important as they casually drop what they spent on both the ball and their wife's gown......

The republic is safe.