While the 120 members of the Florida House of Representatives are primarily focused on the current session, the overwhelming majority of them are getting ready for 2012.
The next general election may still be 19 months away -- and redistricting will impact a number of the current members -- but 101 House incumbents have already filed to run next year.
With redistricting still up in the air, only seven current members of the House have drawn opponents so far. Republican activist Kim Kendall has filed to take on Rep. Mike Weinstein, R-Orange Park, who currently represents parts of Clay, Duval and St. Johns counties. However, Kendall is from St. Johns County, which is in large part currently represented by Rep. Bill Proctor, R-St. Augustine, who is facing term limits in 2012. With no candidates having filed for the seat Proctor is vacating, it is possible that Kendall could run for that seat, which also currently represents parts of Clay and Flagler counties.
While Weinstein may face a challenger in the primary, Rep. Steve Crisafulli, R-Merritt Island, appears to have drawn a serious Democratic opponent in Cocoa Mayor Michael Blake. Blake announced in February that he would run against Crisafulli, who currently represents parts of Brevard and Orange counties, in 2012.
Freshman Rep. Jason Brodeur, R-Sanford, has not drawn a primary rival or a Democratic opponent yet, but he does face a challenger from a minor party. Franklin Perez, who won the Libertarian nomination in a primary to run for the seat in 2010, has filed with the Division of Elections that he will run for the seat in 2012. It currently contains parts of Orange, Seminole and Volusia counties.
Rep. Stephen Precourt, R-Winter Garden, could also see a familiar face in 2012. Democrat Lee Douglas, who ran against Precourt in 2010, has declared his intention to seek a rematch to take this seat which currently contains parts of Lake, Orange and Osceola counties.
Rep. Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg, currently represents parts of Hillsborough, Manatee, Pinellas and Sarasota counties. Republican activist Sharon Russ, who has run for numerous offices the last decade with a lack of success, has filed to run against Rouson.
Rousons fellow Tampa Bay area Democratic Rep. Betty Reed of Tampa could be facing a primary challenge. Community activist Tatiana Denson has filed to take on Reed, who currently represents part of Hillsborough County, in the Democratic primary.
Michael Hepburn, a businessman who is planning on finishing his M.P.A. this year, is looking for a rematch against freshman Rep. John Patrick Julien, D-North Miami Beach. While Julien won the Democratic nomination in a five-candidate filing with more than 40 percent, Hepburn placed second with 23 percent. Julien currently represents part of Miami-Dade County.
No candidates have emerged to run for 10 House seats.
With Proctor facing term limits, no candidates have emerged to run for the seat he currently holds. Term limits also will force House Majority Leader Carlos Lopez-Cantera, R-Miami, to the sidelines in 2012 and nobody has filed yet to run for his Miami-Dade County seat.
Other seats are being vacated as House members run for the Senate -- but in five of those races no candidates have yet to file with the state Division of Elections.
Rep. Dorothy Hukill, R-Port Orange, is running for the Senate in 2012; she also faces term limits in the House. No candidates have filed with the state to run for the vacant seat which represents parts of Volusia County.
Rep. Geri Thompson, D-Orlando, is also running for the Senate after three terms in the House. No candidates have filed yet to run for the seat she holds which represents a portion of Orange County.
With Speaker Pro Tempore John Legg, R-Port Richey, planning to run for the Senate, no candidates have emerged yet to run for his House seat, which currently contains a part of Pasco County.
No candidates have filed for the House seat currently held by Rep. Denise Grimsley, R-Sebring, who represents all of Glades and Hendry counties as well as parts of Collier and Highlands counties.
Rep. Marty Kiar, D-Davie, also has his eyes on running for the Senate. No candidates have filed to run for his seat which contains parts of Broward County.
Three incumbents who are eligible to run again in 2012 have not filed so far. Rep. Will Snyder, R-Stuart, has already said he will run for his old post of Martin County sheriff and, so far, no candidates have filed to run for his House seat which includes parts of Martin, Palm Beach and St. Lucie counties. Newly elected Rep. Barbara Watson, D-Miami Gardens, who won a special election earlier in the year, has not filed to run in 2012. The same holds true of Rep. Irv Slosberg, D-Boca Raton, who returned to the House after the 2010 elections. Both incumbents are expected to run again in 2012.
Candidates have already filed for the seats currently held by retiring members of the House, including Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park; Rep. Jim Frishe, R-St. Petersburg; Rep. Paige Kreegel, R-Punta Gorda; Rep. Trudi Williams, R-Fort Myers, who has filed to run for the Senate; Rep. Ari Porth, D-Coral Springs; former House Democratic Leader Franklin Sands of Weston; and Rep. Eddy Gonzalez of Hialeah.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com, or at (850) 727-0859.
