Rick Scott chooses Jennifer Carroll for running mate - Florida Governor's race

From Eric Dondero:

Meet Jennifer Carroll. She is the four-term state representative from Jacksonville. She is a Republican. And she is now the nominee of the Republican Party for Lt. Governor in the State of Florida.

From Rick Scott for Governor press release:

Carroll is the first African American Republican woman to be part of a statewide ticket in Florida. She was born in Port of Spain, Trinidad West Indies and legally immigrated to the United States as a young girl. Like Rick, Carroll served in the United States Navy. Her career in uniform spanned 20 years, she started as an enlisted servicemember and worked her way up to officer. She is also a small business owner who believes in conservative principles and knows what is needed to create jobs. She shares Rick’s conservative values – both believe in small government, lower taxes, reducing regulation, personal responsibility and personal freedom. Carroll also opposes using stimulus money to paper over deficits, government control of healthcare through Obamacare, and increased regulation like cap and trade.

“I am very pleased to announce that Jennifer Carroll is joining me on this campaign to change Florida for the better,” said Scott. “She is the embodiment of the American Dream. She came to America as a young girl, decided to serve her country with the United States Navy, pursued a higher education, started a small business, and then was elected the first African American female Republican in the Florida State Legislature. Her conservative principles are in line with mine and ensures this fall will present a clear choice between conservatives with business experience and a plan to create 700,000 jobs and liberal Obamacrats who want to bring the failed Obama agenda to Florida.”

“I want to thank Rick Scott for the opportunity to join him in this race as his pick for Lieutenant Governor,” said Carroll. “Floridians are ready to elect a conservative outsider with private sector experience and a plan to create 700,000 jobs. Rick and I share core conservative principles like lower taxes, less regulation, and smaller government. I look forward to campaigning with Rick against Alex Sink, Rod Smith and their liberal agenda.”

Back in November of 2009, we ran an article here at LR. We wrote at the time "Could a Trinidadian-American Female US Navy Vet be the next Senator from Florida?":

Sources indicate that Governor Charlie Crist will decide by next Friday who the Interim Senator for Florida will be to finish out the term of Sen. Mel Martinez. A short list has emerged, of 3 or 4 names. One of the names happens to be a GOP Rising Star: Rep. Jennifer Carroll, the first Black Female ever elected to the Florida Legislature as a Republican.

Ironically, Crist not choosing Carroll paved the way for her current emergence for Lt. Governor.