Former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux continues to prepare for taking on Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in 2012. LeMieux was in Hudson on Thursday, speaking to a Republican organization in Pasco County. During his remarks, LeMieux tried to distance himself from his old ally Gov. Charlie Crist and reassure the audience about his conservative ideals U.S. Rep. Connie Mack, who is considering entering the Republican primary field to take on Nelson, continued to brandish his foreign policy credentials. At a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday, Mack hammered the CEO of the Millennium Challenge Corp. (MCC) for what the congressman considered misleading statements about their support for aid to the government of Honduras. Mack took the opportunity to slam both the MCC and the Obama administration for supporting dictatorial regimes Democratic U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown is being sued by two organizations that helped with fund-raising while the congresswoman was considering running for the U.S. Senate in 2010. While Brown eventually decided not to run, Berger Strategies and Hirschberg Strategies are suing her for more than $45,000 they say she owes them
The Florida Student Association will be hosting a rally for college students from all across Florida at the Capitol in Tallahassee on Tuesday, calling for the Legislature to make more investments in highereducation. They will be hearing from an impressive series of speakers including Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, House Democratic Leader Ron Saunders of Key West, Florida Board of Governors Chairwoman Ava Parker and State University System Chancellor Frank Brogan Members of the states congressional delegation continue to hold meetings with constituents. U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller headed out to Century on Friday while fellow Republican U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan met with voters in Englewood to talk over jobs and the economy Duval County Tax Collector Mike Hogan must like his chances in the first round of the Jacksonville mayoral elections on Tuesday. Instead of joining his rivals in a debate on Thursday, Hogan was at an event held by the First Coast Tea Party which is backing his bid
Facing term limits in 2012, Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, has left the door open to running for Pasco County Sheriff With Fasano facing term limits, Wilton Simpson, a businessman, farmer and community activist, is looking at jumping into the Republican race to replace him in the Senate. House Speaker Pro Tempore John Legg of Port Richey has already filed to run for the seat as a Republican While he may have lost the attorney general race to Pam Bondi back in November, former House Democratic Leader and state Sen. Dan Gelber shows no signs of fading away. Gelber posted a piece on Friday where he attacked the plan espoused by Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, to reform the state Supreme Court by breaking it into two separate bodies, one focused on criminal matters while the other handled civil cases
Another Republican has filed to run for the Senate seat currently held by Lizbeth Benaquisto, R-Wellington. Joining Rep. Trudi Williams, R-Fort Myers, in filing for the seat, is Mike Lameyer. Lameyer, a pilot, a bowling coach and former Marine who is a backer of the James Madison Institute, ran in the Republican primary for the seat back in 2010, placing third with 25 percent behind Benacquisto and former Rep. Sharon Merchant Republican U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis spoke at an event in New Port Richey on Friday that honored American servicemen held as prisoners of war Former Democratic U.S. Rep. Ron Klein, who lost to Republican U.S. Rep. Allen West in November, joined Holland & Knight as a partner While Klein has not shut the door on taking on West in a rematch come 2012, two Democrats have already filed to run -- businessman Patrick Murphy and Patrick Daniel who served in the Air Force during the Gulf War.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
