HERE'S THE CANDIDATE COUNT SO FAR

Using information provided by the Florida Division of Elections, here's the breakdown on the races where at least one candidate has filed papers to qualify:

Governor
The Florida Department of Elections lists 11, but Lawton "Bud" Chiles withdrew after realizing that he did not meet the constitutional requirement regarding residency (must be a resident for the preceding seven years). Of course, everyone knows by now that Congressman Jim Davis (D - Tampa) has filed, as has State Senator Rod Smith (D - Gainesville). The others are:

Dr. Blass Piotr of Boynton Beach, No Party Affiliation listed. Was a candidate in the 2004 U.S. Senate race.

Richard Paul Dembinsky of Port Orange, Republican. Ran in 2003 for mayor of Port Orange, and last year for the state House of Representatives in District 28.

Jamie Gannon of Orlando, No Party Affiliation listed. A 31 year old Orlando native who works as a bartender at Walt Disney World's Typhoon Lagoon. According to Orlando Sentinel columnist Scott Maxwell (scroll to the end of the column), Gannon's first idea was to mandate a 15 percent tip at restaurants and bars; he's since retracted that idea.

Monroe Lee of Gainesville, Democrat. Probable cause was found in January, 2003 by the state Board of Architecture and Interior Design that Mr. Lee illegally offered and provided architectural services for the design of a church (Case 2002-13382). The pastor had already paid Mr. Lee $1300 before discovering that he was not licensed. He was eventually fined $5000.

Wilfredo Papa-Roqui Maneiro, II of Tallahassee, No Party Affiliation listed.

Robert L. Pribble of Osprey, Democrat

C.C. Reid of Miami, No Party Affiliation listed

Mickey Richardson of St. Marks, No Party Affiliation listed

Attorney General
State Representative Joe Negron (R - Stuart) is the only candidate to file qualifying papers to run for the position of Florida's top law enforcement officer. However, his House collegue and former Pinellas County sheriff Rep. Everett Rice (R - Treasure Island) is considering making the race, and Democratic Senate Leader Pro Tempore Walter J. "Skip" Campbell, Jr. (D - Tamarac) is being encouraged to run. Term limits prevent incumbant Republican AG Charlie Crist to run again; besides, he's likely running for governor.

Chief Financial Officer
There are four candidates seeking to replace CFO Tom Gallagher, who is also a likely gubernatorial wannabe. The three Republicans are Milton V. Bauguess, an insurance agent/financial planner from Tallahassee; State Senator Charles W. Clary, III (R - Destin), an architect by trade for former Destin City Councilman; and State Representative Dennis Ross (R - Lakeland). So far the lone Democrat is Miami attorney/property tax consultant Eric Copeland.

Florida Senate
17 Republicans, including 11 incumbants. 13 of the seats have no Democratic challenge at this time.
12 Democrats, including three incumbants. Five of the seats have no Republican challenge at this time.

Some interesting races:
In District 10, currently held by Senate President Tom Lee and consists of parts of Hillsborough, Pasco, and Polk counties, two Republicans have filed to run since Lee will have to step down due to term limits: J. Steven Cleveland of Valrico, and State Representative Sandra L. Murman (R - Tampa).

In District 16, which consists of eastern Pinellas and west and northwest Hillsborough counties, Majority Whip Jim Sebesta (R - St. Petersburg) is also barred by term limits from reelection. Three state representatives are wanting to make the move to the Senate chamber: Kim Berfield (R - Tampa), Frank Farkas (R - St. Petersburg), and Charlie Justice (D - St. Petersburg).

District 18 should be an interesting race to watch. Two Democratic state representatives are seeking to replace incumbant and the party's leader in the chamber, Lesley "Les" Miller, Jr. (D - Tampa), as he is running for the congressional seat currently being held by gubernatorial candidate Jim Davis (D - Tampa). Rep. Arthenia Joyner (D - Tampa) and Rep. Frank Peterman (D - St. Petersburg) have both filed qualifying papers. The district contains portions of west central and central Hillsborough, southeast Pinellas, and northwest Manatee counties.

With term limits ending the tenure of Democratic Leader Pro Tempore Walter J. "Skip" Campbell, Jr. (D - Tamarac) in the upper chamber, there are already five candidates seeking his District 32 seat in northeast Broward county. Democrats Scott J. Brook, a Coral Springs attorney, James W. Haddad of Coral Springs (who ran as a Republican in 2003 for the District 29 seat), former Yahoo! marketing executive Jeremy Ring of Fort Lauderdale, and former state representative Stacy Ritter of Parkland are coveting the seat, as is Republican Andrew Joseph Nauman of Pompano Beach.

To be updated later with House information