News,Issues,Trends

Since campaigning three years ago on a promise to work hard for Floridians, Gov. Charlie Crist has scheduled the equivalent of almost 10 weeks off annually.

A Miami Herald/St. Petersburg Times review of Crist's official daily schedule is a telling indication of how he mixes governing, campaigning for U.S. Senate and taking enough personal time to, in his own words, "recharge."

On 81 regular work days, Crist had no events scheduled or took off personal time. On 129 other occasions, the schedule shows Crist worked half days - just a brief phone call sometimes - equal to at least 64.5 more days off, the Herald/Times found.

The most notable change in his schedule lately: Crist is phoning it in more often in meetings with staff. He also is spending more time away from the Capitol, holding news conferences in South Florida, Tampa Bay and Central Florida - big television markets where he has "after-hours'' fundraisers.

Crist, 53, acknowledges that his schedule might show he has had an outsized amount of time off. But he says his office can't keep a list of how he spends every hour because it would be overwhelming.

"I'm like a doctor: I'm always on call," says Crist, the son of a physician. "As long as I have a cellphone on me, which I'm talking to you right now on, I'm working. I'm never not governor."

As he campaigns on his record, the official record of when he works takes on added significance in this recession-wracked state where one million people have no job at all.

Crist is intimately familiar with how a politician's work schedule can become a campaign liability. In 2006, the Republican hammered gubernatorial rival Democrat Jim Davis for frequently missing votes in Congress.

"I'll come to work every day," Crist said in one debate. His campaign attacked Davis with ads featuring an empty chair. Later, Democrats turned the tables with www.emptychaircharlie.com, a website to highlight what they say is Crist's lax effort.

The Herald/Times reviewed Crist's daily calendars from his first day in office on Jan. 2, 2007, through Friday. Days in which he worked four hours or less were counted as half days. Holidays and weekends were excluded, though Crist occasionally attends events on those days.

And particularly during the spring legislative session, there are days that begin early and run through the dinner hour. Also, when disasters strike -- like Lady Lake's killer Feb. 2, 2007, tornadoes -- Crist is quickly on scene.

As governor, Crist earns $130,273 a year. Unlike other state employees, his work hours aren't strictly defined or mandated. He is not limited to 22 days off yearly, as are senior managers and political appointees in state government.

Crist didn't take his time off all at once. He took a personal day here, a half day there.

Add all the blank time together and Crist hasn't scheduled at least 29.1 weeks of work -- about 9.7 weeks a year. On 173 more days, Crist's schedule shows he worked between four and six hours. And on his half days, he was scheduled to work an average of 2.5 hours.

Crist's schedule shows he's often on a campaign -- whether it's touting low crime rates or seeking a spot last year on Sen. John McCain's presidential ticket. Crist has flown to spots around the state and nation more than 525 times, according to his schedule, which doesn't list everywhere he goes.

Many of his schedules feature the cryptically labeled "Work and Call Time." Crist said he uses it to talk to staff, return calls, read reports or just have a few moments to focus on what's important.