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Rick Kriseman endorses Eric Lynn, not Charlie Crist, for Congress

 
Published Oct. 21, 2015

ST. PETERSBURG — Turns out there was a good reason Mayor Rick Kriseman didn't attend Charlie Crist's congressional kick-off Tuesday.

Sure, Kriseman was out of town. But it turns out Kriseman is also supporting the other guy in the race: former Obama administration official Eric Lynn.

"This is a man who cares about his community and will take that passion with him to Congress," Kriseman says in a 90-second video released Wednesday by Lynn's campaign.

In some respects, Kriseman's endorsement is not a reflection on Crist, a former governor who many now consider a strong favorite to win the Democratic nomination for the 13th U.S. Congressional District that includes St. Petersburg.

Lynn, 37, has known Kriseman, 53, since he was a child. Both men are part of a tight-knit Jewish community in St. Petersburg. And Kriseman, one of the first elected officials in Florida to endorse President Obama, got to know Lynn better as Obama's Jewish liaison in Florida, said Kriseman's chief of staff Kevin King.

But several Democrats voiced surprise at Kriseman's endorsement, noting that Crist had endorsed Kriseman for mayor in 2013. Kriseman returned the favor last year, endorsing Crist for governor.

Pinellas County Commissioner Ken Welch, who is endorsing Crist, said he thinks the former governor's support will remain strong in south St. Petersburg, which will likely be added to the 13th District when the state Supreme Court approves final boundaries next month.

"He's immensely popular in the district, especially his stance on voting rights, what he did for early voting," Welch said.

The video, which was recorded before Crist's announcement, might provide a glimpse at how Lynn will campaign.

Kriseman and Lynn josh in the video about their roots in St. Pete and their rival high schools (Kriseman graduated from Boca Ciega; Lynn from St. Pete High).

The banter appears calculated to undercut Crist's claim that he's the hometown favorite. Lynn moved back to St. Petersburg late fall after serving in the Defense Department and the Pentagon for six years in Washington, D.C. He entered the race first, months ago, and has already raised $550,000 in campaign contributions.

Crist's campaign dismissed Kriseman's endorsement as a prior obligation.

"Sounds like Kriseman made a promise to a friend well before Charlie Crist was in FL-13. He and Charlie are friends, that won't change," tweeted Kevin Cate, a longtime Crist adviser on Wednesday.

Commissioner Janet Long, another Crist supporter, said Kriseman's endorsement is "just politics."

"It is what it is," she said.

If there was any hand-wringing among Democrats about the possibility of an ugly primary, Susan McGrath, the county's Democratic chairwoman, wasn't showing it.

"It's good for the Democratic party to have a spirited primary. There's plenty of time to discuss the issues," she said.

St. Petersburg council member Charlie Gerdes is backing Lynn because he thinks the county needs a "fresh" face in Congress.

"I just see an energy and passion in Eric that is very attractive," Gerdes said.

Gerdes, who has become a Kriseman ally on council, said he thinks some Democrats are wary of Crist.

"What I hear from people is that they're just not comfortable knowing what position he's going to take. He went from Republican, to independent to Democrat," Gerdes said. "Personally, I don't feel that way, but that's what I'm hearing."

Crist's campaign is lining up high-profile endorsements of its own. On Thursday, former gubernatorial candidate and 13th District Democratic nominee, Alex Sink, threw her support behind Crist.

"We need someone who will give a voice to the people and push out the special interests, and Charlie Crist will do that. Charlie has fought for Democratic values, like expanding affordable health care coverage and restoring civil rights to nonviolent ex-felons. I know he'll make sure the voices of Pinellas County will be heard in the halls of Congress," Sink said in a statement.

Contact Charlie Frago at cfrago@tampabay.com or (727) 893-8459. Follow@CharlieFrago.