“Today I announce that I am running for governor of Florida,
and the reason is to put you back in charge,” Crist told a crowd of supporters.
According to the Tampa Tribune, Crist wants “to restore what
he said were billions of dollars in cuts by Gov. Rick Scott to K-12 public
schools and higher education, including the Bright Futures college tuition aid
program.” The Tribune added that Crist also announced his intention to create a new program that will provide “tuition aid to graduate students in medicine, science, math and
technology if they remain in Florida after school.”
FAMU has felt the stark difference in gubernatorial support since
Crist left office. Back during his governorship, Crist approved tens millions
of dollars of new spending for FAMU’s educational facilities. But Scott has vetoed every construction appropriation line item that the Florida Legislature has tried
to give FAMU since he took over in 2011.
Crist was elected to the Florida governorship as a Republican
in 2006 but switched to “No Party Affiliation” in 2010. He is now seeking the
Democratic nomination for his old job, having joined the party last year.