Take the how well do you know FL quiz

A flock of candidates will descend on St. Petersburg on Wednesday for a debate, so this seems like a good chance to find out whether they know much about the Sunshine State other than how many electoral votes we have (27, at least until the Supreme Court says otherwise).

See here.

Comments

Very clever.

You might want to read over #12. It's confusing. Seems the quote you provided contradicts the answer you provided.

I enjoyed taking the quiz. It was refreshing to read something that did not just smear someone.
It needed to ask something about the mega list of the state designated stuff on the books, i.e. the state rock, or bird, or salt water fish or fresh water fish, or state sand, or state mineral, state dirt, state flower, state play, state railroad museum, etc.

[Lifelong Republican]

On another subject,

I don't get why this administration feels the need to redefine whatever they want as it relates to serving the citizens of the state.

Jeff, you serve ALL the people of Florida, not just those in SW Florida. I, as a taxpayer, expect that you live (like Jennings, Brogan, McKay and others before you) in Tallahassee. The state's "Best Lt. Governor Ever" should live in Tallahassee full time and serve the citizens throughout all of Florida while being engaged daily with your team in state government. Its not a part time job like you used to have in the legislature. There is no excuse for you to be using all that non-green jet fuel to shepherd yourself back and forth to and from your dream home!

SW Fla. finds Kottkamp’s still in the neighborhood
By Betty Parker
Originally posted on November 24, 2007
Kottkamp: North Fort Myers is now his home

Rarely has Southwest Florida had a lieutenant governor spend as much time here as Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp has during the last 11 months.

Then again, there's never in modern times been a lieutenant governor who could legitimately call the area home — and the benefits are notable, according to several community leaders.

He is more accessible to residents and businesses, and it doesn't hurt to have a local lieutenant governor fight for the area during a slow economic time.

Kottkamp, a former Cape Coral legislator tapped by Gov. Charlie Crist as his running mate last fall, was sworn into office alongside Crist last January in Tallahassee.

That was just a few weeks after Kottkamp, his wife Cyndie and 3-year-old son Jackson moved into their new dwelling in North Fort Myers, a custom-built family dream home.

Kottkamp, 47, said then he'd divide his time between the Capitol in Tallahassee, where they also own a home, and Lee County.

And that's how it's worked out.

Florida's lieutenant governor has no prescribed duties other than to be prepared to take over the governor's post if needed. Beyond that, the job involves whatever the governor and lieutenant governor decide.

A look at Kottkamp's schedule over the last several months shows he's spent much of the work week in the capital, often going up early on Mondays.

On Thursday or Friday — outside of legislative sessions, when he often stays at the Capitol — he returns to Lee County and works in his office at Edison College, or travels throughout South Florida and elsewhere for speaking engagements, conferences or other work.

Crist has asked him to oversee the governor's initiatives with the film industry, and the Office of Drug Control. Kottkamp also serves as board chairman for Space Florida, and travels to Cape Canaveral and other areas with space-related business.

Crist, who grew up in St. Petersburg and calls that area home, keeps much the same schedule, along with his own home and office there. So did former Gov. Jeb Bush, who maintained his Miami home and office during his eight years as governor.

"This is something we thought about and talked about a lot at the start," Kottkamp said of his and Crist's split schedule.

"Tallahassee is not the center of the universe, and coming back home helps us stay in touch better with the people we represent. It's a big help for us to be out and about around the state."

It's also helpful, or potentially so, for residents of Southwest Florida, who have a better chance of meeting with the lieutenant governor at a place closer and easier to reach than Tallahassee.

"I know many people who've met with him at the Edison office, who would not have been able to make the trip otherwise," said Gary Lee, chairman of Lee County's Republican Party and a longtime Kottkamp supporter. Although the demand for such meetings can mean a full schedule weeks in advance, it's still an option that did not exist before, Lee noted.

"The lieutenant governor is really at the beck and call of the governor, so if this were not working out, I'm sure there would be changes made," Lee said. "But I see it as a big advantage for Southwest Florida. It gives us more presence and keeps us at the forefront with the top decision-makers in the state."

Helpful to business

Business leaders also appreciate it, said Cole Peacock, who manages government affairs for Chico's FAS clothes and is active with the Florida Chamber of Commerce and Florida Retail Federation.

Not only are local business and civic groups better able to draw the lieutenant governor as speaker for their meetings, Kottkamp also is available to delve deeper into local businesses' concerns.

"He spent almost three hours here with us, not campaigning or promoting himself, but learning about trade issues and other matters that are critical to us from a business standpoint," Peacock said.

Others who've recently been able to tap Kottkamp for speeches or appearances include Florida Gulf Coast University classes, real estate professional groups, the Chamber of Southwest Florida, and Businesspeople United for Political Action, along with individual appearances for events such as bill signings or announcements of new initiatives such as tax reform proposals.

How often a lieutenant governor from elsewhere might appear for such groups is debatable, but no one remembers any before being so visible.

"People get excited when they get to meet the lieutenant governor, and this gives them a chance to do that," Peacock said.

Lee County Commissioner Tammy Hall said especially at this time when state budgets are being squeezed, "it's great for Southwest Florida to have a lieutenant governor call this area home. I think anyone in any county would see the advantages in that."

But county commissioners could still do more to reach out with their concerns, she said.

"He's spending time right here in our own backyard," hall said. "It's up to us to take advantage of that."

After spending time in Tallahassee himself, Peacock said he believes it's healthy for state leaders to get outside the capital city and talk to "regular citizens."

"He and Charlie always say they want to be the peoples' governor', and you can't be the peoples' governor unless you get out and spend time with the people," Peacock said. "He's staying close to his family and close to the community, and I think people appreciate that."

While Kottkamp himself may spend three or four days a week in Tallahassee, his family may stay more often in Lee County.

"Sometimes they come up to Tallahassee. We have a home in both places," said Kottkamp, who joked it can be hard remembering where his laundry is. "We're just back and forth a lot."

Depending on circumstances they may drive, or Kottkamp may be able to use a state plane, available to most top state officials when traveling for business purposes.

State Sen. Dave Aronberg, D-Greenacres, is the Senate's Democratic whip, a position that can be more partisan than other Senate slots.

Just as Aronberg praises Crist and Kottkamp for their willingness to work with Democrats, he said he sees "nothing but good" from Kottkamp doing at least some of his job outside Tallahassee.

"He and the governor are free to chart their own course on that," Aronberg said. "But it's great for Southwest Florida to be the lieutenant governor's home town, and having him be here so much helps him live the role of citizen legislator."

V. interesting stuff in the quiz. And is it just me, or do the balloons in the artwork above look ORANGE and blue, instead of red and blue?

GO GATORS!

GO GATORS!
Orange and Blue they are.
Why not 45 for and 12 against.
Next year will be different/not

Gator Boy

Here's a question to add:

If you're in Jeb's administration and you have dirt in your background, which of the following apply:

A. Just lie about it
B. Nobody will ever know
C. It will be covered up as a political tradeoff
D. All of the above

Very clever indeed, and fun, thanks. (Mizener the architect is Mizner.)

What is the state butterfly?

Patrick Smith's "A Land Remembered" is great reading for anyone who appreciates Florida.

Thanks for a really fun quiz!