Some big names will be helping to usher in Rick Scott as Florida’s 45th governor. While famed Irish tenor Ronan Tynan, best known for his versions of “God Bless America” during Yankees games, will be singing, the selection of evangelical leader Chuck Colson to serve as the keynote speaker for Scott’s prayer breakfast has raised some eyebrows.

While Colson is known for his role in the Watergate scandal, he has been a leader in the evangelical community for almost four decades, founding the Prison Fellowship Ministries and helping lead the ecumenical group Evangelicals and Catholics Together with the late Father Richard John Neuhaus … Rep. Erik Fresen, R-Miami, continues to move up the ladder. Fresen, who was elected to the House in 2008, was selected on Thursday to replace David Rivera, who was elected to Congress, to lead the Miami-Dade Republican Party … Penton’s American City & County magazine selected Mayor Buddy Dyer of Orlando as its 2010 Municipal Leader of the Year. The magazine bestowed the honor on Dyer for his commitment to diversifying the city’s economy and for his support of high-speed rail …

Incoming Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll was in her old stomping grounds on the First Coast on Thursday. In a speech in Jacksonville, Carroll focused on education reform, increasing speculation that the incoming administration will support greater school-choice options in the Sunshine State … As his term enters its final weeks, Gov. Charlie Crist continues to use his appointing power to shape Florida’s future. On Thursday the governor announced he was appointing William Holley and Ralph Humphries, who both call Jacksonville home, as judges of compensation claims. The same day Crist named Alexander Christine to the St. Johns County Court and Herbert Berkowitz to the Hillsborough County Court ... Second Amendment advocates from across Florida are lining up behind SB 234, introduced by Sen. Greg Evers, R-Baker, which will restore open carry privileges for guns in the Sunshine State …

While Jacksonville should have an exciting mayoral race in the first half of 2011, a lot of the down-ballot races look very noncompetitive. Former Rep. Dick Kravitz -- who was chased out of taking on former Rep. Aaron Bean for the Senate seat that Stephen Wise, R-Jacksonville, will vacate in 2012 -- has a healthy financial advantage in the race to replace Mike Hogan as tax collector. Hogan is running for mayor. Supervisor of Elections Jerry Holland has not drawn any opposition yet and incumbent Sheriff John Rutherford seems a near-lock for another term despite having two opponents … William Fleming, son of Flagler County Sheriff Don Fleming, was arrested earlier in the month for possessing a controlled substance despite not having a prescription. Sheriff Fleming addressed his son‘s arrest at a meeting in Palm Coast, arguing that prescription drug abuse was out of control and that pill mills need to be shut down. Flagler County leaders are pressing their legislative delegation on the issue … While the state party is undergoing some leadership changes, and despite incumbent House member Keith Fitzgerald losing in November, the Sarasota Democratic Party has voted to keep Rita Ferrandino as chair for another two years. Ferrandino has led the county party since 2007 ...

U.S. Rep. Frank Lucas, R-Okla., named the new Republican members of the House Agriculture Committee on Friday -- and welcomed incoming U.S. Rep. Steve Southerland to the committee … Southerland’s fellow Republican freshman U.S. Rep. Allen West was named to the House Armed Services Committee on Thursday -- a natural fit considering West’s service in Iraq … Florida donors are starting to get attention from political leaders in other states. Conservative businessman Phil Moffett is running for governor of Kentucky in 2011 as a Republican and was in Florida to raise funds for his campaign, specifically an event in Palm Beach. Moffett, a favorite of tea party activists, also met with Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp during his time in Florida.

 

Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.