The already crowded field running to replace U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, D-Fla., in Congress could soon grow even larger as Belinda Keiser, the vice chancellor for Keiser University, Everglades University and other proprietary institutions, is weighing entering the race.
Keiser told the Palm Beach Post on Friday that she was considering entering the race for the Republican nomination to replace Murphy who is running for the U.S. Senate in 2016.
“As an economic development professional for the past 35 years and as a person who has contributed to Florida’s economy and job creation, I have a longstanding interest in public service,” Keiser told the Palm Beach Post. “I am strongly considering a run for Florida’s Congressional District 18 and look forward to making a decision within the coming weeks.”
Besides working for the university that bears her family name, Keiser has served with Broward Lawyer’s Care and the National Health Screening Council. In Tallahassee, Keiser serves on the board of the Florida Chamber of Commerce. She was named to the board of Workforce Florida by then-Gov. Jeb Bush and reappointed to it in 2009 by then-Gov. Charlie Crist.
Keiser has run for office before, making an unsuccessful bid for the Florida House in 2000 as a Democrat. She lated joined the Republicans.
If she runs, Keiser will join a crowded field of Republican candidates. Businessman Paul Spain, who ran and lost to U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel, D-Fla., last year, launched a bid to replace Murphy this week. Earlier this week, two other candidates -- veteran Brian Mast and attorney Rick Kozell -- entered the Republican primary contest.
Former state Rep. Carl Domino, who Murphy beat in last year’s general election, St. Lucie County Commissioner Tod Mowery and Martin County School Board member Rebecca Negron are already running for the Republican nomination. Conservative leader Dan Bongino, a former Secret Service agent who ran for Congress and the U.S. Senate in Maryland, congressional staffer Bill Castle, state Rep. Gayle Harrell, pundit Noelle Nikpour, Martin County Commissioner Doug Smith and businessman Gary Uber are looking at running for the Republican nomination.
On the Democratic side, two members of the Palm Beach County Commission -- Melissa McKinlay and Priscilla Taylor -- are already running. So is engineer Juan Xuna. Other possible candidates on the Democratic side include state Sen. Joe Abruzzo and St. Lucie County Commissioner Chris Dzadovsky.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
