A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO TALLAHASSEE...

State Representative Dennis Ross (R - Lakeland) was cruising up the interstate enroute to the state capitol, qualifying papers and filing fee in hand, ready to qualify as a candidate for the United States Senate. He wasn't about to allow Congresswoman Katherine Harris (R - Longboat Key) a free pass to become his party's nominee and possibly drag down the rest of the Republican candidates on the ballot. But Ross had said he would not run if other candidates qualified.

Well, Ross got a call while driving to Tallahassee, informing him that two other gentlemen had qualified. That seemed to settle it, so the lawmaker turned his car around and returned to Lakeland and look at his options. He could seek reelection to his legislative seat, but he promised good friend and Lakeland City Commissioner Gow Fields that he would not do so, in order for Fields to offer himself for the position. He had originally wanted to become the state's Chief Financial Officer, but that idea faded after Ross learned that he would have to sell his interest in his law firm. Dennis Ross is an ambitious fellow, and wants to run for statewide office; the qualifying period doesn't end for another month or so.

So, where does that lead us as far as the U.S. Senate race goes? There is not much information about some of the lesser known candidates, but here is a list of the qualifiers, with their campaign Web sites and biographies where available:

REPUBLICAN
LeRoy Collins, Jr. (Tampa): Son of the Civil Rights-era Governor. Rear-Admiral, USNR (Ret.). Former President, Armed Forces Financial Network.

Katherine Harris (Longboat Key): Member of Congress. Former Florida Secretary of State and member of the Florida House of Representatives.

William "Will" McBride (Windermere): Former managing partner, Holland & Knight law firm.

Peter Monroe (Safety Harbor): Developer. Headed the Resolution Trust Corporation's Oversight Board during the early 1990s during the savings and loan debacle.

DEMOCRATIC:
Bill Nelson (Orlando): Incumbant U.S. Senator. Former Astronaut.

INDEPENDENT / NO PARTY AFFILIATION
Floyd Ray Frazier (Eatonville):

Brian Moore (Spring Hill): Executive Recruiter

Belinda Noah (Tampa): Attorney. Adjunct Law Professor. Television Producer

Roy Tanner (Oviedo):

WRITE IN
Lawrence Sidney Scott (Aripeka):

Bernard Senter (Miami):