ANOTHER NEWSPAPER EDITORIAL, THIS TIME ON CFO RACE

The editorial pages are generally quiet on the political front today. However, there is one statewide endorsement to report, from the Fort Lauderdale-based South Florida Sun Sentinel. It recommends current Senate President Tom Lee of Brandon in the Republican primary for Chief Financial Officer.

It makes special note that South Floridians may want to pay attention to this race, as one of the duties of the CFO include insurance regulation, such as handling consumer complaints about companies and investigating insurance fraud.

The editorial closes:

"Lee's opponent in the primary is state Rep. Randy Johnson, R-Celebration. Johnson, 46, promises an aggressive approach to insurance regulation, and the vow is appealing. Unfortunately, some of his proposed solutions to the crisis, including shifting more policies to smaller insurance companies, might exacerbate the problem."

The winner between Lee and Johnson will face Democrat Alex Sink in November.

Also, today's St. Petersburg Times is endorsing school board candidates on both sides of the bay. In the four Pinellas County races, it recommends incumbant Nancy Bostock in District 2, professional mediator Peggy O'Shea in District 3, incumbant and mental health professional Linda Lerner in District 6, and incumbant and social services administrator Mary Brown in District 7.

In the Hillsborough school board contests, the endorsements go to two incumbants, Candy Olson in District 2 and Jennifer P. Faliero in District 3, and April Griffin in District 6.

And in the Democratic primary for the District 59 State House seat being vacated by Arthenia Joyner, the Tampa Tribune endorses community activist Betty Reed.