Governor Charlie Crist, 51, has announced his engagement to girlfriend Carol Rome, a wealthy 38 year old with two children from a previous marriage.

The Palm Beach Post reports…

It’s the fifth engagement for Crist, whose only marriage in 1979 lasted six months. Crist’s father told The Palm Beach Post in 2006 that his son was engaged three times after that divorce, including twice to the same woman.

Rome, of New York, was divorced in the spring. She has two children, ages 11 and 9.

“They’re both very happy,” said Crist’s former chief of staff, George Lemieux. “He’s the happiest I’ve seen him since I’ve known him.”

Rome’s ex-husband, Todd, told The Palm Beach Post last month that Crist and Carole Rome were “good people.”

“If they’re in love then they should do the right thing and be happy,” he said.

Rome is the owner of Franco American Novelty Company, a 100-year-old family business.

Judge Bernard Nachman has granted a request from School Board chairwoman Betty Burney to remove Vivian Wright’s name from the August 26th primary ballot. Burney had challenged Wright’s residency qualifications to run for the District 5 seat, and Wright refused to go through discovery to determine is she was in fact entitled to challenge Burney’s re-election.

Three other seats are scheduled to be decided next month, including open contests in Districts 1 and 3. School Board member and former Mayor Tommy Hazouri is also seeking re-election in District 7.

City council candidate Angela Nixon recently took the time to answer a few of our questions. Nixon is running in a special election to be held this August to fill the District 10 seat being vacated by Mia Jones, who is running for the state legislature.

Angela Nixon: I am running for City Council District 10 because my district has been overlooked for many years. I want to afford the residents of the community with the same social and economic opportunities/amenities that more prominent districts in the City of Jacksonville have.

I also plan to raise awareness about resources and services that are available to improve the quality of life for all! I am also running because I feel that my generation has no voice when it comes to issues that affect our everyday lives. Many have deemed us the “lost generation”, stating that we don’t value life or authority. This is truly not the case, and I want to show otherwise. I am simply trying to Bridge the Gap between District 10 and other districts, as well as between the different generations in this city. I’ve always known that I wanted to be active in politics, just never this soon.

Angela Nixon: When it comes to violence and behavioral problems, like many have stated in letters to the editor, it does start at home. However, when a child is not getting the proper guidance at home, it is up to the community to take a stance. I am a firm believer of the old saying, “It takes a village to raise a child.” However, the village has turned its back on our children. That is why it is up to the local government to forge bonds and build relationships with the school board, organizations, (profit, non-profit, faith-based, etc), and businesses to promote and develop programs that strengthen families and the positive youth experience & development. We must be that village.

It’s time for a holistic approach to the problem, not just a quick fix. You can do all the teaching of values and the importance of education that you want to a student in school, but if that child has to go home to a house with no parent, the lights out, and/or younger siblings to care for…that teaching goes straight out of the window. This is why it is important to address the issues at home and in neighborhoods. I also plan to lobby for an increase of police presence in high crime areas, with the condition that community policing goes along with it. There are many residents in the area that have a negative feelings and opinions about law enforcement. If a child grows up and the only time they see the police is when they’re taking one of their loved ones, of course there is going to be hostility. It is up to JSO to counter this ideology and begin showing people that they are only out to help keep the residents safe from harm.

I will also seek to increase lighting in dimly lit areas, as well as make sure that the Public Works Department keeps the excess shrubbery and bushes trimmed back off of city right-of-ways.

Angela Nixon: We need to bring life to downtown! Every major city in the nation has a bustling downtown. We must first improve the transit system, making it easier and more accessible to get around the downtown area. We have a major parking crisis. We also need to seek out grants and funding that we can use to help entice different venues/businesses so that we can get better use out of the area, instead of just its corporate daytime usage. This would also help attract more young professionals to the Jacksonville area. Which would in turn offer a fresh vision and workforce to the area.

Angela Nixon: I feel that more research needs to be done on this matter, so that we will know the true effect that the draining will have on our local ecosystem. If we conclude that it will have an adverse effect, then we will need to lobby the state government to intervene in the matter.

Angela Nixon: I plan to model only certain things after some past members, like making it my full time job after I am elected. I think you can honestly take at least one thing from each present or former councilperson that would make you a successful leader.

Angela Nixon: Golden Corral, I’m a simple girl. It doesn’t take much to make me happy. All you can eat under 10 bucks. I guess I’m still in college student mode. More bang for your buck, plus I always like to sneak out with a cookie.

Sorry, I know that’s bad.

Angela Nixon: Yes, “Baby’s First Book”. It’s a children’s book. I’m trying to get my newly 1yr old ready for the FCAT!

Angela Nixon: Sleeping, ahhh. I haven’t had over six hours since I can remember. I also love to watch my daughter Natalie dance. We recently took her to a wedding and she danced at the reception for TWO HOURS straight. No lie! She was the life of the party.

Angela Nixon: It’s my pleasure. I would like to invite everyone to visit my website AngelaNixon.com and give me a call at 904.610.7103 or send me an email at angie.nixon@yahoo.com if they have any questions.

I look forward to representing not only those in the District 10 community, but the Jacksonville community as well. It is time we come together and celebrate life and all that it has to offer.

It is time to Bridge the Gap!

The state’s new “guns at work” law kicks into effect today. But don’t go rushing into your place of employment with a handgun in your pocket. The law only allows individuals to have concealed weapons stored in their automobiles on private property, including their place of employment.

Not surprisingly, the business community is unhappy with the idea of having that firepower stored in company parking lots. In fact, the Florida Chamber of Commerce and the Florida Retail Federation filed a lawsuit to kill the proposal back in April. But Attorney General Bill McCollum rejected an injunction the two organizations requested to put the gun law on hold while their challenge works its way through the court system.

Gun owners claim that the right to carry a weapon onto private property in their automobile should be guaranteed, because a vehicle is essentially an extension of a person’s home and should be treated as such. The Chamber argues that the “Guns At Work” legislation eliminates a fundamental right of businesses and private property owners by making it illegal for them to have policies prohibiting firearms on their own private property.

Susie Wiles, chief spokewoman for Mayor John Peyton, has annaounced that she is leaving her position to travel and spend more time with her family. Her husband and daughters are, presently, very heavily involved in the John McCain campaign.

Wiles, the daughter oflegendary NFL/golf announcer Pat Summerall, has been with the Peyton administration for nearly five years.

“She’s done amazing policy work, for which I’m grateful,” said Peyton.

A surprisingly competitive race for Republican State Committeeman has developed with 13 candidates slated to appear on the ballot…

Jon L. ANDERSON
Fred ENGNESS
Rick HARTLEY
Michael A. HARRISON
Deno A. HICKS
Justin LOVETT
Philip S. MAY, III
Richard PAIT
Neil B. POWELL
Dave SHIELDS
Aaron “Butch” SORRELL
Victor L. WILHELM JR.
Robert W. “Toby” WILLIAMS

Hicks is the incumbent and Rick Hartley would seem to be the most serious challenger. Fred Engness was a candidate for City Council last year against Warren Jones and has demonstrated himself to be a strong campaigner. Victor Wilhelm is also a candidate for Soil and Water District and has some ties to the Ron Paul campaign.

There are also three candidates running for GOP State Committeewoman…

Kimberly ABELON
Kay Ragan DURDEN
Cindy Faulkner GRAVES

Graves would seem to be the overwhelming favorite of this bunch as a long-time party activist and coordinator.

I’ve also heard talk that there might be some competitive precinct committeeperson races, which would be quite surprising. Apparently some Ron Paul folks filed near the close of qualifying… I don’t know the details and the SoE hasn’t posted a list of who is running yet, so it will be a little while before we know. Should be interesting to see.

Democratic state house candidate Regina Young apparently thought she had successfully qualified for a spot on the ballot last week. But that wasn’t the case.

According to posters on the Jax Out Loud forum, Young had filed her paperwork and was told she had successfully completed the qualification process. But in reality she lacked a single form and was informed on Friday that she would not be on the November ballot.

Stay tuned as this one may be going to court.

The following candidates have qualified by the deadline on Friday and will appear on the ballot in their respective races…

Clerk of Courts: Jim Fuller (R), John Winkler (D)

School Board 1: Stan Jordan, Jim Moser, Ken Manuel, Cathie Pittman Shimp.

School Board 3: Chris Monti, Jack Daniels, W.C. Gentry

School Board 5: Betty Burney, Vivian Wright

School Board 7: John Turner, Tommy Hazouri

Soil and Water Conservation Board…
Group 2: Jeff Hunt, Jonathan McGowan
Group 3: Victor Wilhelm, Derek Washington, Calvin “Cal” Lee
Group 4: Katrina Finley, Stephen Covington, Jason Fischer, James Joseph Morton

Special Elections…

City Council District 10: King Holzendorf (D), James E. Muhammad (D), Angela Nixon (D), Reggie Brown (D), Joe Clements (R)

At-large Group 2: Dick Brown (R), John Crescimbeni (D), Theresa Graham (R), Bob Harms (D), Jill Marie Smith (R)

No Republican stepped forward to run against Democratic State Senator Tony Hill this week. But a member of the conservative Constitution Party did file and pay the fee needed to appear on the ballot.

His name is Louis Tart and he was previously planning to run against Congressman John Mica this year. But for whatever reason, perhaps a lack of funds to pay the qualifying fee, Tart has opted to take on Senator Hill.

The district is overwhelmingly Democrat and largely African-America. It is unlikely that Tart will be able gain much more than 20% of the vote come November.

Bob Milner, the Sheriff of Bradford County, has abandoned his campaign for State House of Representatives. Milner was running in the Republican primary against Janet Adkins and Bobby Hart.

Adkins and Milner had each raised over $100,000 for their bids, while Hart just recently filed to run. With Milner’s depature from the race, Janet Adkins has to be considered the overwhelming front-runner to replace Aaron Bean in Tallahassee.