Throughout my career, whether as a long-time federal prosecutor, a counter terrorism chief investigator in the United States Senate or as a state legislator, I have tried to stay true to the principle that standing on the side of what’s right is always better than standing on the side of what’s right for me. When the BP oil spill hit, I immediately went on the offensive, drafting proposals to protect the state and its taxpayers, calling on Governor Crist for a special session on oil drilling, and just last week, suggesting the state give the Attorney General criminal jurisdiction so that he might go after BP and other wrongdoers for potential criminal misdeeds.

And I did one other thing last week, I resigned from my law firm upon learning after the fact that they had signed up to represent BP in court. Although lawyers do not assume the virtues or defects of their clients, I have been the leading and harshest critic of BP and of off-shore oil drilling for many years, and believed if I am to run for Attorney General I should not have any association with the company.  

Several people, including some of my closest advisers told me to call a press conference last week and pat myself on the back for taking a principled stand. But I didn't because doing the right thing is never a cause for celebration. But unfortunately, last night, my opponent in the primary, in what could only be considered a rank political stunt, decided to politicize the tragic oil spill calling on me to resign even after I had already done so. Sadly, while I continue to offer real solutions to hold BP accountable and help victims impacted by the spill, my opponent is focused on scoring political points.  The stakes in this race are too important for politics as usual and I really hoped this campaign, unlike so many others, would remain on the high road.  

If there is any question how I will govern on cases like BP, just look at my record, where time and time again, I have stood up against the powerful special interests that have had their way with too many. Whether it’s standing up against developers who wanted free reign to use our resources, insurance companies who want to increase your rates for their profits or oil companies who just as recently as a few months ago were trying to convince the legislature it was safe to drill within 3 miles of our coastline, I have never backed down from a fight, I've never given into the politics of Tallahassee and I don’t find religion in even year elections.

And I can promise you one thing, if there is one person that BP is scared of facing in court, it is the only one who has a consistent record of standing on the side of consumers and who has actually faced down gang leaders, corrupt politicians and crooked corporate leaders in a court of law.

P.S. In case you missed it, check out the Palm Beach Post editorial that ran yesterday agreeing with my call for an immediate special session to address solutions to the complex challenges from the oil spill. Make state BP-claim ready: Gelber's call for a special session makes sense.