Charlie Crists' Inaugural Ball Cancelled

We at Jacksonville Confidential were highly anticipating our attendance at Governor Charlie Crists' Inaugural Ball on January 2,2007, but received the following email from the Crist office...though we are disappointed that we wont get to experience such a historic event, we like Charlies' reasoning behind the cancellation. And, after all, there are still plenty of free events to check out!

"Dear Friends,

As many of you know, I am a former quarterback and today I called an audible and cancelled the long-standing tradition of the Governor’s Ball. I just didn’t feel right having a Ball while Floridians are struggling with a property tax and insurance crisis.

Day after day, I am hearing stories about the sky-rocketing costs of property taxes and property insurance from Floridians across the state. After thoughtful reflection, I feel it is more appropriate to cancel the pricey Ball and move forward with the previously scheduled events that are free and open to the public. I invite the people of Florida to join me at one of the many free events across the state to celebrate Florida’s future.

In order to make the events accessible to all, donations will be accepted to defray the cost of the free events. However, the donations will not exceed that of previous administrations and donations already made, will be returned.

As previously announced, proceeds from funds raised by the Inaugural Committee, after costs are covered, will be distributed to the Derrick Brooks Charities, the Jessica Marie Lunsford Foundation and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.

I hope you will join me at one of the free evnts listed below and help me in “Celebrating the People of Florida”. If you have any questions, please contact the 2007 Inaugural Committee at 850-656-9445 or cristinaugural@charliecrist.com.

Best regards,
Charlie

The schedule of 2007 Florida Inaugural Events is as follows:

Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Inaugural Breakfast
8:30 A.M. until 10:00 A.M.
Parrot Jungle, Miami, Florida
Free Ticketed Event – 2 per person

Sunday, December 17, 2006
Inaugural “Kick-Off” Bar-be-que
1:00 P.M. until 2:30 P.M.
Legends Field, Tampa
Free Event – No Tickets Required

Tuesday January 2, 2006
The 2007 Florida Inaugural Prayer Breakfast
7:30 A.M. until 9:00 A.M
Florida A&M University
Gaither Gymnasium, Tallahassee, Florida
Free Ticketed Event – 2 per person

The Official Swearing in Ceremony
10:30 A.M.
The Old Capitol
East Portico, Tallahassee, Florida
Free Ticketed Event – 2 per person"