A look at Rick Scott's choice for GOP ticket, Jennifer Carroll

Trying to keep the outsider label that propelled him to victory in the Republican primary for governor, millionaire businessman Rick Scott announced last week that he had picked a fellow outsider for lieutenant governor in Jennifer Carroll.

``We have similar backgrounds,'' Scott said in a press conference in Brandon to announce Carroll's selection. ``She's smart, she wants to work hard. She's got experience in the Legislature. She's an outsider like I am.''

Carroll, who was considered a potential running mate for Charlie Crist in 2006, has an interesting story. Let's see if it adds up to being an outsider.

Carroll, 51, was born in Port of Spain, Trinidad, but was brought to the United States by her family at a young age.

She joined the U.S. Navy and rose from jet mechanic to become the top aide to an admiral. In 1999, she retired from the Navy as a lieutenant colonel and started a public relations firm, 3N. & J.C. Corp. She moved to northeast Florida in 1986.

We've already ruled that Carroll would be the second woman and first African-American woman elected lieutenant governor. That certainly puts her outside the norms of politics, as does her being born in Trinidad.

But Carroll's life after the Navy seems pretty political insider to us.

Consider: Carroll ran for Congress in 2000 as a political newcomer. She lost to Democratic Rep. Corrine Brown despite outspending Brown 2-to-1.

In 2001, Carroll said she talked with Vice President Dick Cheney about a job on his staff.

Later that year, Carroll was nominated by Gov. Jeb Bush to run Florida's Department of Veterans Affairs. Her nomination was confirmed. She resigned about a year later to run again for Congress. She lost.

In 2003, she was elected to the state House in District 13, where she has served ever since. She was appointed deputy majority leader by Speaker Johnnie Byrd in 2003 and served as a majority whip from 2004-2006.

Carroll's state House biography also includes these highlights -- Republican Club of Clay County, ``Top 10'' Republican Award 1999, 2002; appointed by President George W. Bush to the White House Presidential Scholars Commission, 2001-2004; appointed by President George W. Bush to the Veterans' Disability Benefits Commission, 2004-2007; Black Political Action Committee's 2005 Vikki Buckley Political Leadership Award.

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