Asked whether he was interested in running for the seat, Bush confirmed The Politico by e-mail Tuesday: “I am considering it.”

From Politico.com…

A source close to Bush said he’ll be thoughtful and methodical about the decision-making process. He will consider the impact a race would have on his family and his business and whether or not the U.S. Senate is the best forum from which to continue his advocacy for issues such as education, immigration and GOP solutions to health care reform.

In an interview with Politico immediately after November’s election, the former governor said the Republican Party should take four primary steps to regain favor with voters: Show no tolerance for corruption, practice what it preaches about limiting the scope of government (“There should not be such a thing as a Big Government Republican”), stand for working families and small business, and embrace reform.

Bush said conservatives should “do the math of the new demographics of the United States,” explaining that the Republican Party “can’t be anti-Hispanic, anti-young person — anti many things — and be surprised when we don’t win elections.”

Since Martinez’s announcement Tuesday, Bush has received many phone calls and emails from Floridians and national Republicans urging him to run, the source close to him said Tuesday night.

South Florida based political blog Politics1.com recaps all of the potential candidates who may try to replace Martinez. Included in this list are many “heavy-hitters” like Jeb Bush, Alex Sink, Bill McCollum and Marco Rubio.

As was rumored for months, US Senator Mel Martinez (R) announced Tuesday he will not seek a second term in 2010. Martinez said he wants to return to Florida and have more time with his family. Had he run again, polls showed Martinez was highly vulnerable — and appeared likely to even face a competitive primary challenge. The retirement may also be good news for the GOP, as the open seat may be easier to defend. With the seat open, a long list of Florida politicos are looking at the race. Former Governor Jeb Bush (R) is reportedly interested. If Bush runs, he would likely have an unobstructed run for the nomination. However, if Bush passes on the race, potential GOP candidates include Attorney General Bill McCollum, former Florida House Speakers Allan Bense and Marco Rubio, and Congressmen Vern Buchanan, Adam Putnam and Connie Mack. Putnam is also considering a run in two years for the open State Agriculture Commissioner post. Dems looking at the Senate seat include State CFO Alex Sink, State Senator Dan Gelber, and Congressmen Alan Boyd, Kendrick Meek and Ron Klein. Sink had planned to announce Tuesday that she would not run for the Senate seat against Martinez — but canceled her announcement to reconsider the race.

The full text of Senator Martinez’s statement follows…

If there is one thing I have learned over the years, it is that life can have many wonderful detours from where you think you’re going. These result from chance, adversity, and a call to duty.

As a teenager growing up in Cuba, I saw comfort and the rule of law replaced by tyranny and communist oppression. I saw people beaten for practicing their faith. I remember those who spoke out vanishing – never to be seen again. My parents, with the help of the Catholic Church, sent me here, to the United States – a place to be safe until we could be reunited.

It was here that I learned the greatness of this country – and the genuine goodness of the American people. I lived with two foster families – good, decent, loving people who answered a call from the pulpit one Sunday to take in a boy they did not know, from a country they had never seen, who spoke a language they did not understand.

I thank God for the Young and Berkmeyer families. They helped me understand what it means to be American – what it is to aspire to live the American dream – and the profound virtue of giving back to your community.

After four years I was reunited with my family. I went to college and law school. I met the woman who would become my best friend, my partner and counsel. Kitty and I settled in Orlando – my only true home after I left Cuba. We started a family, sent our two older children, Lauren and John, to Bishop Moore High School – the same school I attended – and where our younger son, Andrew, started as a freshman this year. Orlando is where I built a law practice, and where I was encouraged to become an active member of this vibrant and growing community.

After years of involvement in numerous community organizations and boards and with encouragement from many friends, I threw my hat into the political ring, running for Orange County Mayor.

“What an honor it would be,” I thought, “to serve as Mayor of the community that took me in.” It was a race where I started in last place. Pundits openly wondered whether a Hispanic could be elected Orange County Mayor at a time when only 5% of the registered voters in our county were Hispanic.

So in November of 1998 I began my term believing that after four – or maybe eight years at most – I would return to the private sector. Neither my family nor I had planned or hoped for anything different.

You all know that one thing led to another. From Mayor, I went to serve in the President’s Cabinet. From there, I made the run for U.S. Senate. Again, I started in last place, ran against an impressive field of candidates who had the resources and statewide recognition that should have ended my run early on. Those who volunteered with me knew the odds were against us; no other office holder had been elected on their first statewide run.

But we persevered. We proved the American Dream is alive and well, especially when an immigrant arriving here with nothing can one day be elected to serve in the United States Senate.

The Senate is the only federal office carrying a six-year term, so a decision about whether to run for re-election is one that my family and I have carefully considered over the past year. It was a question that came to mind as I wrote my book – causing me to reflect on the path I’ve chosen, and to think about, with love and gratitude, those who’ve traveled with me.

The inescapable truth, for me, is that the call to public service is strong, but the call to home, family and lifelong friends is even stronger.

So today, with deep love for this country and with sincere gratitude to the people who placed their trust in me, I announce that I will not run for reelection to the United States Senate.

I thank all of those who helped me reach the highest elected office that an immigrant can hold in this great country. And I especially thank my family, who has supported me every step of the way – especially Kitty, who has sacrificed much more than me and without whom none of this would have been possible.

Some might try to characterize this decision in terms of political affairs. Some will say a re-election campaign would have been too difficult. But I’ve faced much tougher odds in political campaigns and in life. My decision was not based on reelection prospects, but on what I want to do with the next eight years of my life.

The thought of devoting more time to my roles as husband, dad, granddad, brother and son to the family I love and cherish, and to be “Mel” to the friends I miss – makes this decision far easier than one might think.

So with two years left in my term, I make this announcement today in order to give the many qualified individuals who might choose to try to succeed me an opportunity to organize and gather support.

I look forward to serving out these next two years. There are big problems facing Florida and the nation, and I will continue to do what I think is in the best interests of the people whom I represent.

Thank you; God bless you; and God Bless the United States of America.

State Representative Adkins with Governor Charlie Crist…

State Representative Mike Weinstein, a candidate for Speaker, poses with members of his family…

Representative Mike Weinstein and his wife with Janet Adkins…

Janet and Doug Adkins standing with their two children…

Representative Adkins with her daughter Emily, who is 9 years old, and her son Douglas, who is 7 years old…

Thanks very much to Doug for sharing his photos with JaxDaily! If you’ve got photographs you’d like to see us feature, drop me a line at afcassidy@yahoo.com!

From the Florida Times-Union…

Weinstein was elected Nov. 4 to represent House District 19, which includes Mandarin. He aspires to become House speaker.

Corey said Weinstein will be in charge of her office’s administrative and budgetary functions, the same position he held under former State Attorney Ed Austin before Austin was elected mayor in 1991.

Weinstein, who is volunteering with Corey’s incoming administration, will begin work after the 2009 legislative session, she said.

Weinstein said he will be paid about $100,000 annually, but he and Corey are still working out the details. He’ll also be paid about $30,000 a year as a state legislator.

“It’s a great pick,” former Mayor John Delaney said. “He’s a wonderful manager.”

Delaney, who worked side-by-side with Weinstein in the Mayor’s Office and State Attorney’s Office, said Weinstein is uniquely qualified because he understands both budgets and case flow.

Weinstein, who ran unsuccessfully for mayor in 2003, said the job is a return to his first love of public safety. He said he and Corey spent several hours Friday touring the State Attorney’s Office.

“Angela’s going to really try to beef up the prosecution, and we’re going to try to help her do that, particularly during these difficult economic times,” Weinstein said.

An Associated Press study of 94 percent of the state’s total shows the Republican beat Obama by almost 5 percentage points on Nov. 4, but Obama trumped McCain by 11 percentage points in early and absentee balloting. Overall, Obama beat McCain 51.4 percent to 48.6 percent in Florida, becoming only the third Democrat in 11 presidential elections to carry the state.

The results reflect the Obama campaign’s heavy emphasis on early voting in critical states such as Florida, which had the most electoral votes of any swing state - 27 - and decided the presidency for George W. Bush in 2000.

The AP analyzed election results reported by 55 Florida counties, separating the absentee and early ballots from the votes cast on Election Day.

More than 2.6 million of Florida’s 11.2 million registered voters cast their ballots in the early period between Oct. 20 and Nov. 2. Florida’s total turnout for the presidential election was 8.4 million voters; it was not yet clear how many voters mailed in their ballots.

Locally, here in Duval County, the results were similarly slanted. John McCain carried Jacksonville by a margin of 50.5% to 48.6% overall. However, Obama easily won early voting while McCain carried Election Day and Absentee voters by wide margins…

Election Day (Duval)
—————————-
John McCain - 57.2%
Barack Obama - 41.8%
Others - 1%

Absentee Votes (Duval)
—————————-
John McCain - 61.2%
Barack Obama - 37.9%
Others - 0.9%

Early Voting (Duval)
—————————-
John McCain - 40.3%
Barack Obama - 59.2%
Others - 0.5%