Elect Charles Dean for State Senate, District 3

Citrus County Chronicle
May 1, 2007

Dean resigns, special election for two races

That special election in June? Make it a two-fer.

State Rep. Charlie Dean submitted his resignation Sunday, effective June 26, allowing Gov. Charlie Crist to call a special election for Dean’s replacement in the House of Representatives District 43.

That means voters will go to the polls for a primary and general election in June for the House race and Senate District 3.

Crist last week called for a special election for the Senate seat to replace Nancy Argenziano, whose resignation takes effect the end of the day Wednesday. Crist appointed Argenziano, R-Dunnellon, to the Public Service Commission.

Dean, R-Inverness, is one of three Republicans in the Senate race. His resignation allows Crist to set both the special House and Senate elections at the same time.

Citrus County Supervisor of Elections Susan Gill said a special election will cost the county about $150,000, which the state will reimburse. Qualifying for candidates is May 14, with the first primary set for June 5.

The election is June 26.

That creates a challenge especially for candidates in Senate District 3, which includes Citrus east of U.S. 19 and parts of 12 other counties stretching into Tallahassee.

Along with Dean, Republicans Richard Corcoran of Crystal River and Rep. Dennis Baxley of Ocala have pre-qualified for the race. So far, no Democrat has announced in the Senate district.

The House district, comprised of Citrus County in its entirety plus parts of Levy and Hernando counties, has attracted six candidates so far: Democrats Sophia Diaz-Fonseca, Amy Endsley and Patricia Kittleman; Repub-licans Susan Kirk, Winfield “Winn” Webb and Michael J. White.

While others have said they’re in the race, they have not pre-qualified with the Division of Elections.

That House race, coincidentally, might beget more special elections. Diaz-Fonseca and Kirk are members of the Inverness and Crystal River city councils, respectively. Both must submit resignations 10 days before qualifying for the House race with the resignations taking effect no later than Election Day.

Diaz-Fonseca said she plans to submit her resignation tonight to the Inverness council effective May 14, the House race qualifying date. Kirk said she will have her resignation in by the end of this week with the effective date Election Day.

Both councils use different approaches to filling vacancies.

The Inverness Council, by unanimous vote, may pick a replacement. If the vote is not unanimous, the city will have a special election.

The Crystal River Council selects a replacement by simple majority vote.

That person serves until a special election is called.