SENATE PREZ ENTERS CFO RACE; ONE CANDIDATE MAY WITHDRAW

No great surprise here: Florida Senate President Tom Lee (R - Brandon) has decided to enter an increasingly crowded GOP primary race for Chief Financial Officer.

Lee announced his bid Thursday for the office, which regulates insurance and banking, as well as pays the state's bills. More importantly, the CFO is a member of the state Cabinet with the Governor, Attorney General, and Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services and has a voice in setting state policy in a number of other areas.

Four other Republican legislators are seeking the office: State Senator Charlie Clary (R - Destin), State Representative Randy Johnson (R - Celebration), State Representative Dennis Ross (R - Lakeland), and Tallahassee investment advisor Milt Bauguess However, Ross may withdraw soon due to a legal opinion that he would have to close his Polk County-based legal practice if he won.

On the Democratic side, Miami attorney and political activist Eric Copeland has entered the CFO race. Among other names being touted as possible candidates are Alex Sink of Tampa, a former bank executive and wife of former gubernatorial candidate Bill McBride, State Representative Kenneth Alan "Bill" Gottlieb (D - Hollywood), and State Senator Al Lawson (D - Tallahassee).

That means that the 2006 legislative session should be quite interesting, not only because it is an election year, but especially with Lee's announcement, and House Speaker Allan Bense's (R - Panama City) increasing likelyhood of entering what would be a GOP primary race for Bill Nelson's U.S. Senate seat and both men leading their chambers, that will certainly have to play into what issues will be on the front burner for consideration.