POTENTIAL CANDIDATES EYEING LEGISLATIVE SEATS

With several state legislators eyeing possible statewide races in 2006, potential candidates are looking at making a run for those seats.

In Polk County, State Representative Dennis Ross (R - Lakeland) has announced that he is planning to run for Chief Financial Officer next year. That has Lakeland City Commissioner Seth McKeel giving serious thought to what would be a vacant seat for District 63. McKeel is in his fifth year on the City Commission, and his family name would give potential opponents second thoughts at a challenge. He is the grandson of the late Seth G. McKeel, a businessman who served on the Polk County School Board for many years and for whom McKeel Academy is named.

St. Petersburg Times political editor Adam C. Smith had a good look Sunday at some of the legislative and congressional races that could be interesting across the Tampa Bay region.