Sierra Club Reacts to Meek’s Rejection

My colleague Luke Johnson got some reaction from the Sierra Club on Kendrick Meek’s rejection of the environmental group’s endorsement. Meek rejected the endorsement because the Sierra Club also endorsed his opponent for the Senate seat, Gov. Charlie Crist, who is running as an independent.

Johnson got in touch with Frank Jackalone, Florida staff director of the Sierra Club:

Jackalone, when reached by phone Thursday afternoon, said, “‘We think that Rep. Meek and Gov. Crist would both make excellent senators.”

When asked whether the endorsement was an “insult” to Florida’s environmental community, he said, “It’s not at all. It’s not. It’s recognizing the strengths in both candidates. We’re surprised. I’m not surprised that Meek wants to win the election so he’s trying to differentiate himself.”

He added, “It seems like he [Meek] was disappointed and I’m surprised.”

This isn’t the first co-endorsement in the race. The Florida Education Association, the largest teacher’s union in the state, also co-endorsed both Meek and Crist in May.