Sen. Mel Martinez (R-FL), an opponent of drilling near the Florida coastline, said Friday he will not return to the Senate following the August recess. Martinez previously said he planned to leave the Senate at the end of 2010, but he moved up the date for personal reasons. Martinez often joined Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) in blocking measures that attempted to open the Florida offshore to oil and natural gas drilling. Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, who has his own eyes set on the U.S. Senate in 2010, will appoint a successor to serve out Martinez’s term.

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