DEMOCRATS SEE HOPE WHERE THERE HAS BEEN LITTLE RECENTLY

For the first time in eight years, a Democrat could be running for the District 69 Florida House seat being vacated by the decision by incumbant Republican Donna Clarke (R - Sarasota) not to seek reelection.

Sarasota Herald-Tribune political columnist Jeremy Wallace reported in his blog this week that Keith A. Fitzgerald, an associate professor of political science at the New College of Florida and vice chairman of the Sarasota County Democratic Executive Committee, is seriously considering the idea. Two Republicans have already filed to run; Sarasota County Commissioner David Mills and Sarasota County School Board member Laura Benson.

There is reason for that hope for Democratic success in the district, which covers much of northwest Sarasota County and a small sliver of southwest Manatee County, although the electorate of the district is heavily GOP:

In 2004, U.S. Senate hopeful Betty Castor, a Democrat, won more votes in the district than Republican Mel Martinez. Castor won 53 percent....In addition, Jan Schneider, a Democrat (who is running for Harris' congressional seat next year), beat Katherine Harris within the confines of District 69 in 2004. Even John Kerry did well in that district - winning 49 percent of the vote.