Littlefield joins commission race
The race to see who will replace Pat Mulieri on the Pasco County Commission just got a little wider after former State Rep. Ken Littlefield decided to jump into the race.
Littlefield’s run comes four years after losing a primary to Mulieri, who will retire this year after two decades in office.
Littlefield first came to political prominence in 1999 when he won a special election for the Florida House seat formerly occupied by his brother, Carl Littlefield. He left office in 2006, planning to join Florida’s Public Service Commission, as appointed by then-Gov. Jeb. Bush. However, once Gov. Charlie Crist took office, he rescinded the nomination, and appointed Philip Nowicki and Jeremy Susac instead.
In his last two years in Tallahassee, Littlefield had four bills he wrote passed into law, including a 2004 law that transferred the responsibility of handling state and federal funds for domestic violence shelters from the state Department of Children and Families to a statewide association.
In the 2010 election, Littlefield raised $21,000, but that was dwarfed by Mulieri’s $88,000 war chest.
This time around, fellow Republicans Mike Moore and Bob Robertson have already combined to raise $50,000 for the August primary.
Brodeur endorses Burgess for House
State Rep. Jason Brodeur, R-Sanford, endorsed Zephyrhills mayor Danny Burgess in his quest to win the District 38 House seat currently held by Will Weatherford.
“Danny is a committed conservative who will bring new life to timeless principles,” Brodeur said, in a release. “In addition, Danny brings a wealth of experience, service and leadership abilities to the task ahead, and will be a welcome new face in the House.”
Brodeur represents parts of Seminole County, and was first elected to the Legislature in 2010.
Burgess potentially faces Minerva Diaz in the August Republican primary, with the winner facing Democrat Beverly Anne Ledbetter in November, if no one else files.
Wilson at Republican club
The Republican Club of Central Pasco will host Pasco County Commissioner Henry Wilson on Jan. 29 at 6 p.m., at Copperstone Executive Suites, 3632 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes. The topic will be the proposed elevated highway over State Road 54, and the delay in constructing Ridge Road. For information, call Steve Graves at (813) 996-3011.
Corcoran raising lots of money
He doesn’t have an opponent at this point, but State Rep. Richard Corcoran, R-Land O’ Lakes, is ready just in case.
So far, the District 37 legislator has raised a little more than $102,000, more than any other local candidate for the state house this year.
Both Dan Raulerson, R-Plant City, and Janet Cruz, D-Tampa, have raised a little more than half of that each — just under $60,000 and $58,400 respectively — in races where each have yet to draw a challenger as well. James Grant, R-Tampa, has raised just under $31,000 for his District 64 seat, and has yet to be opposed.
Zephyrhills mayor Daniel Burgess jumped into a state house race in District 38 for Will Weatherford’s seat with built-in challengers. So far, Burgess has raised a little less than $17,000, outpacing his Republican primary opponent Minerva Diaz ($4,072), and substantially more than his possible Democratic challenger, Beverly Anne Ledbetter, who has raised $2,158.
In District 63, incumbent Mark Danish, D-Tampa, will have a real fight on his hands to stay in Tallahassee. Right now former Tampa City Councilman Shawn Harrison has raised $50,810 compared to Danish’s $40,147. Harrison’s Republican primary challenger, Bret Wedding, has raised $10,750.
Crooked Creek Ranch holds fundraiser
Republican candidates for the state House — Danny Burgess, Shawn Harrison, Chris Latvala and Chris Sprowls — will raise money through a Wild Game Dinner at Crooked Creek Ranch, 29325 Darby Road, Dade City, Jan. 31 beginning at 5 p.m.
Donations will be accepted up to the state maximum of $1,000 per individual to support each campaign.
Burgess, the current mayor of Zephyrhills, is facing a primary against Minerva Diaz in District 38, the seat currently held by Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel. Harrison also has a Republican primary challenger for District 63, Bret Wedding, for a seat currently held by Mark Danish, D-Tampa.
Latvala has filed to run in District 67 in a seat currently held by Ed Hooper, R-Clearwater. He’s facing Christopher Shepard and Frederick Thomson so far in the primary.
Sprowls is a candidate for District 65, in a seat currently held by Carl Zimmerman, D-Palm Harbor. He is expected to face off with Debbie Faulkner in his primary.
For details about the dinner, visit VoteDannyBurgess.com.
Published Jan. 29, 2014
