After qualifying Thursday to make the ballot, Sen. Jim Norman, R-Tampa, has withdrawn from the Florida Senate District 17 race.
Norman has drawn fire on ethical issues and was among the Senate Republicans breaking ranks against prison privatization in the recent legislative session. While he cruised to a big win in the general election in 2010, he survived a brutal primary battle with fellow Republican Kevin Ambler, who was facing term limits in the Florida House of Representatives, during that election cycle. As he geared up for his re-election bid, Norman was confronted once again with serious opposition in the Republican primary
Norman, a former Hillsborough County commissioner elected to the Senate in 2010, was facing pressure not to complete the qualifying process before turning in all the paperwork last week.
However, on Tuesday, with speculation again growing that Norman would bow out to avoid an expensive primary battle against House Speaker Pro Tempore John Legg, R-Port Richey, and other opponents, the state Division of Elections website updated Normans status to withdrawn, though the senator did not release a statement officially bowing out of the race.
The Republican establishment increasingly seems to stand behind Legg. House Speaker-designate Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, on Monday joined a growing list of party leaders to throw their support to Legg. Hours after Norman withdrew, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam announced he is also in Legg's corner.
John Korsak, who is one of two other Republican challengers to Legg for the seat -- the other is former Rep. Rob Wallace -- criticized the appearance of backroom dealings as Norman headed to the sidelines on Tuesday.
Over the past several days it has become clear that Tallahassee, acting against tradition, has inserted its power into a primary election to craft its desired outcome, Korsak stated in a release.
Both Korsak and Legg insisted on Tuesday that Norman bowing out did not impact their campaigns as they continue to seek the Senate seat.
Jim Norman has done a lot for the residents of our area, both as a county commissioner and state senator, and I wish him well, Legg said in a statement on Tuesday. However, we still have a campaign to run with a primary in August and a general in November.And, we are going to continue to work hard and take our message to the voters of District 17. I am looking forward to a spirited debate about the best way to improve our economy and bring jobs back to our community.
Reach Jim Turner at jturner@sunshinestatenews.com and Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com. They both can be reached at (850) 727-0859.
