HE JUST CAN'T WAIT ANYMORE!

The local legislative races are slowly but surely coming to life. Republican Lakeland City Commissioner Seth McKeel, a real estate manager/developer, had decided to run for the State House District 63 seat currently held by Dennis Ross (R - Lakeland). Ross announced recently that he would be a candidate for State Chief Financial Officer.

There had been some thought that District 64 representative John Stargel (R - Lakeland) would move into District 63 and run for the seat after his home received damage during last year's hurricanes, but apparantly McKeel grew tired of waiting to see what Stargel would do and is now saying he will run regardless.

The McKeel name is rather prominent in Lakeland. Besides his own position in local government and business, Seth is the grandson of the late Polk County School Board member Seth G. McKeel, for whom McKeel Academy of Technology is named.

Polk County only has two legislative seats up for grabs this year, Districts 63 and 64 in Western Polk; 65 and 66 in the eastern county were decided last year.