Shelton "Blank Application" Quarles

Apparently, I wasn't the only one that was mystified about Shelton Quarles being appointed Chairman of the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority board. Fellow candidate Ed Turanchik is stumped as to why Quarles would be selected.

"It's a complicated topic, and it takes a lot of effort," said former Hillsborough County commissioner and longtime rail advocate Ed Turanchik, who applied but was not selected. "For Shelton or anyone else like him, there's a huge amount of learning to do, and there's no staff to help him."

Quarles application was something of a joke. He left the selections about his experience and reasons for wanting the job blank. It's more disturbing that Quarles beat out an experienced New York state transit official.

Quarles explained his qualifications to the Tampa Tribune.

"The dumb jock theory definitely doesn't apply to me," he said.

That's the best he can do? How utterly unconvincing. Ofcourse, Quarles did something many other recent Charlie Crist appointees did, he donated to the Governor's last campaign.