Crist taps Democrat Bob Butterworth to head social services agency [View All]

[Freddie Stubbs]

By BRENDAN FARRINGTON
Associated Press
Posted December 19 2006, 12:46 PM EST


TALLAHASSEE -- Republican Gov.-elect Charlie Crist on Tuesday named his predecessor as attorney general, Democrat Bob Butterworth, to head the state's social services agency.

In doing so, Crist is turning over one of Florida's most beleaguered agencies, the Department of Children and Families, to one of the state's most respected Democrats. Butterworth served as attorney general for 16 years before being forced out by term limits in 2002, when Crist was elected.

Butterworth, 64, has since served as dean of St. Thomas University Law School in Miami. Butterworth has also been a Broward County prosecutor, judge and sheriff, mayor of Sunrise and head of the state's Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

He earned a reputation early on for taking on tough challenges. On his way to prominence, Butterworth became the party's fireman of sorts, taking jobs where there were problems or political turmoil.

more: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-1219bobbutterworth,0,4114334.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines