Is it any wonder as to the intent when the Florida REPUBLICAN legislature re-drew his district? He wasn’t toeing the line and had to be “dealt with.”
Not true. Col. West’s district was not redistricted. He decided to move up to District 18, which serves northern Palm Beach, Martin and St. Lucie counties. This district was once represented by the infamous Mark Foley. This was considered a ‘safe’ republican district, as opposed to Dist. 22, which West fought very hard to unseat liberal Ron Klein.
In this election, West’s chosen successor was Adam Hasner, a very effective former state legislator and state senator with solid support. Many people wanted the party to support Hasner as the US Senate candidate against Bill Nelson. GOP establishment politics being what it is, pushed Connie Mack instead. Mack was weak, involved in a messy divorce to go with Cong. Mary Bono, and never in serious contention.
As a consolation prize, Hasner was aligned in the Dist. 22 congressional race against the odious liberal fmr. West Palm Beach mayor and long-time state legislator Lois Frankel.
The result of all this mess is that Mack lost the senate seat, Hasner lost the Dist. 22 House race, and West is fighting for his political survival in the Dist. 18 race against lightweight Patrick Murphy.
One last thing, I really wanted Allen West to go for the senate seat. I don’t know why he didn’t, but there is no doubt in my mind he would’ve pounded Bill Nelson into the dirt. The GOP really screwed this all up.