Charlie Crist is running for Congress; the former Republican governor of Florida announced Tuesday morning in St. Petersburg he will run in the Pinellas County district that is likely to be redrawn to include Clearwater and St. Pete. But the current office holder, David Jolly, is calling Crist a huckster and a fraud.
Crist emphasized the environment, education and economy of Pinellas County during a press conference at Childs Park in South St. Petersburg.
Crist switched to independent for a 2010 run for U.S. Senate. He later ran a second time for governor as a Democrat. In addition to South St. Petersburg, Crist was surrounded by about twenty supporters and elected officials. Afterward, reporters asked Republican Congress member David Jolly why he was at Crist’s event. Jolly called Charlie Crist a fraud and a huckster.
Jolly says he wants former St. Petersburg Mayor, Republican Rick Baker, to run for the Congress seat Jolly currently holds.
Crist also announced the start of his Congressional campaign at the Bill Young VA medical center in Bay Pines and at Pier 60 in Clearwater Beach.
Video of Crist’s announcement:
Audio of David Jolly’s gaggle with reporters:
https://soundcloud.com/wmnf/jollycrist1020
Video of Charlie Crist with reporters after the press conference:
