As former state CFO Alex Sink continues to enjoy a clear shot at the Democratic nomination in a special election for a congressional seat, things are more muddy on the Republican side.
Over the weekend, state Rep. Kathleen Peters, R-St. Petersburg, told the Tampa Bay Business Journal that she was considering running in the special election for the congressional seat formerly held for more than four decades by the late U.S. Rep. Bill Young, R-Fla.
While she is only a freshman in the Florida House, Peters is well-established in the community. Serving as a vice president of public affairs of the Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce, Peters moved up the political ladder in South Pasadena. First serving on the city Planning and Zoning Board, Peters rose to be on the City Commission before serving as mayor. In 2012, she headed up to Tallahassee by winning an open Florida House seat.
But after news broke that Peters was considering entering the race, David Jolly, a former Young aide who has been running for the GOP nomination, won the support of former Mayor Rick Baker of St. Petersburg on Sunday. Baker had been mentioned as a possible candidate for the Republican nomination.
It is a tremendous honor to have the support and endorsement of a leader who transformed St. Petersburg by creating a seamless city where everyone has truly pulled together, said Jolly. I am humbled to have the backing of a man who has solidified his own legacy of public service and who is so highly-known and respected for his commitment to improving the lives, education and community infrastructure for so many here in Pinellas County. Rick Baker had the vision, skills and character to make things work; now that is a lesson Washington could learn from.
We need a leader who will be a strong voice for our community and a strong leader in Washington to help turn back the tide of irresponsible federal spending and debt, insisted Baker. David Jolly knows Pinellas and has worked to support Congressman Youngs many efforts from industry to tourism to the support of our veterans. David wont need a guidebook to know where to start and what to do.
On the Democratic side, Sink, who was the Democratic gubernatorial candidate in 2010, continues to be the only candidate seeking her partys nomination. Attorney Jessica Ehrlich, who ran against Young in 2012, announced last week that she would end her second bid for the congressional seat.
The primary will be held on Jan. 14 while the general election will be on March 11.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com.
