HAPPY NEW YEAR! GETTING BACK TO POLITICS...

My first words of 2005 were: "ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz." I awoke at 12:03AM just in time to watch the celebrants in Times Square and hear the fireworks being set off in the apartment community's parking lot. Then I returned to my sound sleep.

Getting back into the political scene, the Palm Beach Post had a couple of items of interest over the past couple of days. It seems that state Senator Jeff Atwater (R - North Palm Beach) was looking at a possible run for Chief Financial Officer, a job now held by fellow Republican Tom Gallagher, but has decided against the idea.

Atwater is not the only legislator in that neck o' da woods looking at a promotion to statewide offices. State Senator Ron Klein (D - Delray Beach) is considering either the CFO or Attorney General's positions, since term limits will force him out of the House in 2006. Also with his eyes on the CFO seat is State Senator Charlie Clary (R - Destin). State Representatives Joe Negron (R - Stuart) and Marco Rubio (R - West Miami) are possible candidates for Attorney General.

State Senator Walter "Skip" Campbell (D - Tamarac), who we previously noted as a possible gubernatorial candidate, is also said to be considering a CFO or AG run, after looking at a possible crowded primary field next year. I4J had also mentioned that state Representative Dennis Ross (R - Lakeland) has been looking at the CFO job for awhile. The only Cabinet position that looks to be safe for the incumbant at present is Republican Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services Charles Bronson.

New year, new election cycle...more names are sure to come, sooner rather than later.