Tampabay.com
JANUARY 06, 2009

The freshmen take over the mansion

You can't tell the players without a scorecard and the governor's staffers had 'em, even though these guests all wore name tags. (The scorecard is a pocket guide called "2008-2010 Freshman House Members," to help distinguish Eric Eisnaugle from Erik Fresen). Gov. Charlie Crist rolled out the welcome mat at the Mansion Tuesday for the 43 freshman legislators -- not the last time they'll get the royal treatment.

In the Mansion library, Crist debriefed Rep. Mia Jones, D-Jacksonville, on her recent campaign, and asked her to call on him anytime. In brief remarks, he gave shout-outs to Jones; Rep. Perry Thurston, D-Fort Lauderdale; Rep. Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda, D-Tallahassee; Sen. Chris Smith, D-Fort Lauderdale and Rep. Tom Grady, R-Naples. "There's a lot of you," Crist told the large group. "You've got a lot of power, whether you know it or not." 

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