Senate leaders back Corcoran

The three top Republican senators - Ken Pruitt, Lisa Carlton and Daniel Webster - have endorsed Richard Corcoran in the District 3 race. Corcoran is running in the primary against former Reps. Dennis Baxley and Charlie Dean.

“Richard Corcoran represents a new generation of Republican leadership,” Pruitt said. "Richard stands for hope, opportunity, and prosperity for every Floridian. I am proud to endorse his candidacy.” Other quotes in comments section.

UPDATE: Corcoran also got the backing of Sens. Mike Haridopolos, JD Alexander and Mike Bennett.

Comments

Now we're talking!!
Look forward to having Richard Corcoran add to the class and dignity that have been established by our superb leaders in the Senate!

Rocky Pennington continues to throw stones at the senate leadership.
I wonder how long that this reckless behavior will persist.

Rocky's attacks on JD were particulary ruthless last year.

[Alex Leary]

“Richard Corcoran represents a new generation of Republican leadership,” said Senate President Ken Pruitt (R- Port St. Lucie). “Richard stands for hope, opportunity, and prosperity for every Floridian. I am proud to endorse his candidacy.”

“The Florida Legislature is at its best when it serves the people,” said Senate President Pro Tem Lisa Carlton (R- Osprey). “Richard not only understands public policy, he has a true servant’s heart.”

Senate Majority Leader Daniel Webster (R- Winter Garden) said, “I have known Richard for more than 15 years, and I know that he has the character, qualifications, and dedication to serve the people of District 3 well.”

This is huge. The Senate leadership never endorses any one. Big news for Corcoran. Wow!

Richard Corcoran is a class act who will be a highly conscientious and highly dignified Senator!

We do not need any more of the "After Five" Senators who seem to come to life after 5 PM every day, relishing refreshments and story telling.

There remains so much important legislative work; therefore senate district #3, nor the Chamber, can afford to have another good ole boy like Dean.

This is huge. The Senate leadership never endorses anyone in a primary. Big news for Corcoran. Wow!

I hear Atwater and Alexander are next. Wtg, Senator Corcoran!

[Cynical Idealist]

Last time I looked, none of those folks voted in SD 3...

WOW!!!! Nobody saw this coming. This is a very strong message to the folks who write campaign checks.

Didn't Corcoran get arrested or something on a hunting trip a few years back? How come no one is talking about the fact that he's a criminal?

[Blue Dog Rises]

2:08

Glad to see Rocky Pennington on the blog.

what he get arrested for?

He wasn't arrested it was a fine moron.

[Cynical Idealist]

Knowing game officers, it was probably for being such a bad shot...Seriously, it was for shooting up the bird population around some sugar plant down south. See below...

Officer recalls citing Corcoran
By Jim Hunter/Citrus Chronicle (8/17/98)

One of the game officers who observed the local Republican challenger for the Florida House on a duck hunting trip differs with the candidate's memory on what resulted in an $800 game citation.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Special Agent Joe Oliveras said Richard Corcoran was cited for shooting nine non-game birds in January from a duck blind in South Florida.

Corcoran said Monday it was six.

The officer said he and Special Agent Patrick Land—who have been in the field and unavailable since the story on the citation ran last week—reportedly watched Corcoran for about two hours as he and other hunters sat in blinds in a flooded field near a sugar plant.

He said Corcoran shot three seagulls, five greater or lesser yellowlegs, a bird somewhat like a sandpiper, and one tree swallow, which is a bird somewhat like a sparrow.

Oliveras said, "He shot boxes of shells."

"He probably fired at 50 different birds of non-game species." That included, he said, egrets and herons...

oh, ok. then what was he fined for?

Pruitt, Carlton, Webster, Fasano, Haridopolos, Alexander.

Vs. Villalobos

Say no more

wtf? he sits there and fires and kills egrets and herons and he thinks we can trust him to protect floridian's by serving in our senate? I'm glad I read this blog today. I'm gona share this with all my neighbors in Sugarmill Woods. I have a feeling that once I show them this article there won't be any doubt in their minds who to vote for. Certianly not a crook like Corcoran!

Is he going to start shooting a bald eagles next?

Good one 2:41. Maybe he'll just try and run over some innocent manatee along the way.

Low life Rocky blogs and sends out mail.
See Rocky type.
See Rochy mail.
See Rocky act like a big shot.
See Rocky dive under the largest rock when Dean gets trounced.
See Dean supporters cry for amnesty and blame it all on Rocky.
Deja vu from previous Rocky races.
Rocky got lucky in Dade but this is a different world.

I'm waiting for: See Rocky run.
Run Rocky run, and please never come back.

With those endorsements Richard just shot a bald embalmblowharder and a drunken clydeswobbler.

u guys act like endorsements from other senators that the people in citrus county have never heard of, actually matter.

I thought Mr. Corcoran lived right here in Golden Eagle Country Club in Tallahassee.

3:09.. He does live in Tallahassee. 9676 Deer Valley Drive - 32312

Charlie Dean has lived in Citrus County his entire life.

How can someone who lives way up in Tallahassee understand the needs of Citrus County residents? We should elect someeone who knows and cares about Citrus County. Not someone who lives 160 miles away. You aint getting my vote, Corcoran.

3:17, that's pretty obvious. Dean is almost unintelligible when he opens his mouth. And when he adds some sauce to the mix, he speaks in tongues.

3:24. You should worry about what is going on in Tallahassee, not in Citrus County. Until you become a resident of our County, shut the hell up.

1:24, your point is right on the mark.
How many senators do we need to have in the "After Five" Club, drinking up a storm and mixing it up after hours.
Charlie Dean, your lack of attention to legislation and policy issues make you not ready to serve in the Senate.

Why exactly are Villalobos and Dockery backing Dean for anyway? Paula, shame on you! You should have gotten far away from Villalobos.

District 3 is made up of 12 counties including Citrus & Leon (Tallahassee).

Villalobos, Dockery, and Pennington have delusions of grandeur. They are telling anyone that will listen that the next senate presidents after Pruitt will be Villalobos and Dockery, therefore line up.

Yes, line up to jump off the cliff after permanently ruining your access to senate leadership!

Richard Corcoran would be much, much better for the Senate than Charlie Dean. I don't think anyone can argue against that.

Villalobos and future President Chief of Staff David Custin are leaning on everyone to fork out major money for Dean. The response rate has been superb - also most of the Members here are collaborating.

Most of Dean's help will come from here in Dade County. We will celebrate the June election of Senator Charlie Dean.

The joke will be on the doubters who planned the demise of Villalobos in the senate. The Presidency is not over.

The Argenziano and the Posey senate Special Election replacements will both be in the Villalobos camp.

Atwater is spineless and Villalobos is opening eyes, ears, and hearts with his brave leadership. Paula Dockery will deservedly serve as his Approps Chair and then will succeed him.

3:42, I realize that the district encompasses parts of Leon County, but according to the state legislature, only 24,000 voters from Leon Co. are in the district. And if my math is correct that's only 6% of the district. Seems to me someone who actually lives in the heart of the district would know what the district needs. Not some Tallahassee insider who lives 160 miles from the district.

OK, so this slows down the money to Dean, but that is all. I think that I would prefer to get Argenziano's endorsement and the votes that come with it as opposed to a Senate leadership endorsement and the money that comes with it.

Money doesn't equal votes, people. Need we be reminded of Villalobos v. Bolanos?

3:56 PM

As Charlie Dean sort of knows, you can live in the district but be out of it!

[Cynical Idealist]

3:56...

24,000 is the total number of registered Leon voters in SD 3. The number of Leon County R's who can vote in the primary is around 6,500. That's about 7% of the 81,000 registered R's in the district.

Interestingly, Marion and Citrus County have about the same number of R voters.

If, and it's a BIG if, Corcoran splits Citrus with Dean, and Baxley takes all of Marion, then all three equally split the rest of the counties, it's possible Baxley wins the primary.....

356 wait till later in the day to begin the mojitos. Alex Villalobos will never be Senate President. Never.
Marco will be the last presiding officer from Miami for many many years.

Do you think we can get Corcoran to shoot the peacock?

Senator Charlie Dean in June and then Senator Bob Allen in the fall Special Election and you will have two signed, sealed, delivered pledges to our next President Villalobos.

Act tough, mouth off, say what you want, but the die has been cast.
Atwater does not have what it takes to be Senate President. JD does not have the demeanor to be Senate President.
Villalobos and Dockery run circles around these wannabees.

Starting to get concerned? Better join the Villalobos Revolution. He will be "The People's Senate Prez".

Corcoran is going to use a full court press the rest of this election campaign to paint Dean and Baxleys' fannies into a corner. He's got all the resources: money, people, motivation and drive. The others may have some money and outside support, but they will not out work him. No one will win this election sitting in the shade. The Senators supporting him have laid their cards on the table and do not like losing - they have too much at stake. Don't be surprised when Corcoran supporters start covering all 12 district counties like the itch.

The thought of Senate leadership backing anyone in an open primary is un-democratic on its face. There are many who remember a much more civilized time when Republican primary victories were earned fairly. The only ones who pulled those shenanigans were the Democrats. Republicans took over promising a new day. Now, we simply commit the same mistakes that the Democrats did before they lost power. Pruitt and Webster are honorable men. I pray they see the error of their ways and retract their endorsements. Charlie, Rich and Dennis deserve to have a campaign on the issues without outside forces getting involved. The residents of that District have just lost one of the most independent minded advocates in the State and do not deserve to have her replacement beholden to any outside interests.

I have heard all this talk before.
All the leaders in the senate will wipe out Alex Villalobos and elect Frank Bolanos.
Did not quite work out that way.
Now, these same leaders will wipe out Charlie Dean and elect Richard Corcoran.
It will not quite work out that way.
President Alex Villalobos will be a great leader. Those critics of Paula Dockery are smug just because of the bullet train issues. She will get the last laugh when she wins yet another one.

Whats this i keep hearing about Corcoran and some trouble in a strip club that the police had to be called to?

Not sure what you guys are talking about but I think the only guy in this race that has not signed a pledge card is Charlie Dean. So if Villalobos thinks he has a supporter then he needs to think again.

If Fasano, Alexander, Atwater, etc is helping Corcoran then my money is on Dean.

Corcoran and a strip club! Rocky get off the blog. What's that we heard about Rocky, Mark and a good looking blonde. Wow, a good old-fashioned threesome.

The strip club incident involving Richard is accurate. It did however occur a long time ago.

5:37 you are inaccurate.
All three candidates signed a pledge card for Atwater. Only one of the three candidates "double dipped", signing for Villalobos as well, and that would be Charlie Dean.
Dean is very clever, this will keep the arrows out of his back.

I believe that the consultant's role in the race should not be underestimated. Pennington and Custin beat back an avalanche in defeating Bolanos and the Mob. Pennington and Custin will handily defeat Heffley who has become too complacent.