Governor Charlie Crist met briefly with protesting Hillsborough County Teachers Association officials in Ybor City today, where he told union president Jean Clemens that he will be considering the viewpoints of her union and others seriously in the week he has to decide whether or not to sign the controversial teacher tenure bill SB 6 into law.
"It's very good for you to be here, I appreciate your concerns," the Governor said to members of the local teachers union who held signs calling on him to veto the measure.
"I have seven days to take action on it," the governor said directly to Clemens about the bill, as a swarm of reporters and photographers crowded next to each other to try to hear the dialogue. "Your input means an awful lot to me, and the fact that you've taken the time to be here today really reflects the sincerity of your concerns, and I appreciate that – I want you to know that. "
This article appears in Apr 7-13, 2010.