0 - FOR - 10 SEEMS TO BE ENOUGH FOR THIS FELLOW

It's been a fairly quiet political climate in Polk County lately, but Lakeland Ledger political columnist Bill Rufty had to write about something. He apparantly received a letter from one of the area's losingest political candidates in memory, Lakeland resident Gene Roberts, to say that after ten attempts to run for office, he will not do so again.

He's jumped parties in his efforts to run, but most recently served as president of a local Republican club. His last attempt to seek office was last year when he was eliminated in the Republican primary, running a distant third for the Polk County Commission seat now held by Bob English.

Roberts, a fifth generation Conch (Key West native), worked his way through Florida Southern College, eventually serving as a recruiter for the United Methodist school and dean of admissions/registrar at USF before starting his own school, Lakeland Business College before selling it in 1987.

In his letter to Rufty, Roberts made note of another Republican whose perseverance eventually paid off:

"Abraham Lincoln also ran for office 10 times, but on the 10th try, he was elected,"