ROSS TO RUN FOR CEO IN 2006

It's no longer speculation: State Representative Dennis Ross (R - Lakeland) will soon file to run for the post of Florida's Chief Financial Officer in 2006.

Ross apparantly didn't plan to announce quite this early, but a couple of other hopefuls have made their interests known: State Representative Randy Johnson (R - Celebration) and State Senator Charlie Clary (R - Destin) are also expected to be candidates.

According to the Lakeland Ledger political columnist Bill Rufty, Ross had considered a run for House Speaker, but could not even get committments from his fellow Polk County delegation members for their support in time.