Florida Gov. Charlie Crist has tapped his former aide and former deputy state attorney general George LeMieux to fill out the term of retiring Sen. Mel Martinez. Martinez, a Republican, announced earlier this month that he planned to leave office early, which put Crist in an awkward situation since he is planning to run to replace Martinez in 2010.
Crist, a Republican, needed a placeholder, and picked LeMieux from a list of party official and state lawmakers.
LeMieux is the former chairman of the Broward County Republican Party and managed Crist’s 2006 campaign for governor.
Martinez congratulated LeMieux and called him “bright, capable and an accomplished administrator.”
