UPDATED STATEWIDE/POLK COUNTY CANDIDATE LIST FOR CONTESTED RACES

A few weeks ago after qualifying had ended, I posted here a list of all the statewide and Polk County candidates who had qualified to be on the ballot for contested races. Since then, several candidates have launched their campaign Web sites, so I've updated that list to reflect those in order that readers can visit those sites and discover more about the individuals who are seeking your vote this fall. Please take the time to click on the names of those candidates which interest you. Also, anyone with knowledge of new Web sites for any of the names which appear below are encouraged to contact me by clicking on the "Comments" link at the end of this post. I'll be glad to check it out and add it, so please accept my thanks in advance.

UNITED STATES SENATOR
--- LeRoy Collins, Jr. (R / Tampa): Retired Financial Executive
--- Floyd Ray Frazier (NPA / Eatonville):
--- Katherine Harris (R / Longboat Key): Incumbant Congresswoman, Former Florida Secretary of State
--- William "Will" McBride (R / Orlando): Attorney
--- Peter Monroe (R / Safety Harbor): Former Resolution Trust Corporation CEO
--- Brian Moore (NPA / Spring Hill): Recruitment Firm Executive
--- Bill Nelson (D / Orlando): Incumbant
--- Belinda Noah (NPA / Tampa): Adjunct Law Professor, Attorney
--- Lawrence Scott (Write-In / Aripeka):
--- Bernard Senter (Write-In / Miami):
--- Roy Tanner (NPA / Oviedo):

UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES/ DISTRICT 5
--- Virginia "Ginny" Brown-Waite (R / Crystal River): Incumbant,
--- Rick Penberthy (D / Wesley Chapel): Teacher
--- John T. Russell (D / Dade City): Registered Nurse
--- H. "David" Werder (D / Spring Hill): Former trucker; Disabled

UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES / DISTRICT 12
--- Ed Bowlin (NPA / Lake Wales): Electrical/AC Contractor
--- Adam H. Putnam (R / Bartow): Incumbant, Citrus/Cattle Farmer
--- Joe Viscusi (NPA / Lakeland): Former Legislator; Real Estate Salesperson; School Administrator

UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES / DISTRICT 15
--- Bob Bowman (D / Melbourne): Retired USAF, President of Institute for Space and Security Studies
--- John M. Kennedy (D / Merritt Island):
--- David Welson (R / Melbourne): Incumbant, Physician

GOVERNOR
--- Karl C.C. Behm (NPA / ):
--- Piotr Blass (NPA / Boynton Beach): Computer Math Professor; Architect
--- Glenn Burkett (D / Panama City): Nutritional Educator
--- Carol Castagnero (D / Lakeland): Retired Teacher
--- Charlie Crist (R / Tampa): Attorney, Florida Attorney General
--- John M. Crotty (D / Maitland): Attorney
--- Jim Davis (D / Tampa): Attorney; U.S. Congressman
--- Richard Paul Dembinsky* (R / Port Orange): Engineer
--- Tom Gallagher (R / Miami): Attorney; State Chief Financial Officer
--- Max Linn (Reform / St. Petersburg):
--- Wilfredo Papa-Roqui Maneiro, II (Write-In / Tallahassee):
--- Omari Musa (Socialist Workers / Miami): No information available
--- Vernon A. Palmer (R / Miami): Pharmacist; Minister
--- C.C. Reed (Write-In / Miami): Businessman
--- John Wayne Smith** (NPA / Leesburg): Self-employed Businessman
--- Rod Smith (D / Alachua): Attorney; Former State Attorney; State Senator
--- Michael W. St. Jean (R / Jacksonville): Insurance Business Owner
--- Robert O. Wirengard*** (Write-In / Tampa):
--- Atlee David Yarrow**** (Write-In / Jacksonville): Student

* - As Richard Paul Dembinsky does not have an Internet site related to his current gubernatorial campaign, the link to his biographical information is from his previous campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives.
** - John Wayne Smith has selected James Kearney of Plantation as his running mate for Lieutenant Governor. Smith had originally opened his campaign account as a Libertarian.
*** - As Robert O. Wirengard does not have an Internet site related to his current gubernatorial campaign, the link to his biographical information is from his previous campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives.
**** - Although Atlee David Yarrow has qualified to run for governor as a write-in candidate, he is actually running under the banner of the Socialist Party of Florida. He has also chosen Tyrone Adams as his running mate for Lieutenant Governor.

ATTORNEY GENERAL
--- Walter G. "Skip" Campbell, Jr. (D / Fort Lauderdale): Attorney, State Senator
--- Merrilee Ehrlich (D / Pompano Beach): Attorney
--- Bill McCollum (R / Winter Park): Attorney, Former Congressman

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
--- Milt Bauguess (R / Tallahassee): Financial Advisor
--- Randy Johnson (R / Celebration): State Representative
--- Tom Lee (R / Brandon): Homebuilding Company Vice President, State Senate President
--- Alex Sink (D / Tampa): Retired Banking Executive

COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES
--- Charles H. Bronson (R / Tallahassee): Incumbant
--- Eric Copeland (D / Miami): Attorney

STATE SENATOR / DISTRICT 10
--- Victoria Brake (Write-In / Valrico):
--- Stephen Gorham (D / Plant City): Networking/Telecommunications Director
--- Sandra L. Murman (R / Brandon): Former State Representative
--- Rhonda R. Storms (R / Valrico): Former Hillsborough County Commissioner
--- Ray Young (R / Plant City): Building Contractor

STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES / DISTRICT 63
--- James "Jim" Davis (D / Bartow): Massage Therapist
--- Seth McKeel (R / Lakeland): Real Estate/Development Businessman

STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES / DISTRICT 79
--- Frank C. Attkission (R / Kissimmee): Incumbant, Businessman
--- Beulah Farquharson* (D / Lakes): Real Estate Broker, Sales Manager

* - Since Beulah Farquharson does not have an Internet site related to her current congressional campaign, the link to her biographical information is from a 2004 Orlando Sentinel voters guide profile from her previous campaign for the Osceola County Commission.

TENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT / GROUP 27 (Nonpartisan)
--- Jon Kevin Abdoney (Lakeland)
--- David R. Carmichael (Winter Haven)
--- Ernest M. Jones (Lakeland)

TENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT / GROUP 28 (Nonpartisan)
--- John K. Stargel (Lakeland): Incumbant State Representative
--- Nathaniel White (Bartow)

POLK COUNTY JUDGE / GROUP 3 (Nonpartisan)
--- Rob Griffin (Lakeland)
--- Steve Pincket (Lakeland)

POLK COUNTY JUDGE / GROUP 10 (Nonpartisan)
--- Robert Grizzard (Lakeland)
--- John E. Kirkland (Lakeland)
--- Don Ratterree (Bartow)

POLK COUNTY COMMISSION / DISTRICT 2
--- Russell "Rusty" Boedicker (D / Eaton Park): Real Estate Agent
--- Robert Connors (D / Lake Wales): Business Consultant, Writer, Former County Commissioner
--- Betty Hill (R / Lake Wales): Aviation Business Consultant
--- Randy Wilkinson (R / Lake Wales): Incumbant

POLK COUNTY COMMISSION / DISTRICT 4
--- Bruce Parker (R / Winter Haven): Semi-retired businessman, Former Winter Haven City Commissioner/Mayor.
--- Jean Reed (D / Winter Haven): Former teacher
--- Martha Santiago (R / Winter Haven): School Administrator

POLK COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD / DISTRICT 5 (Nonpartisan)
--- Kay Fields (Lakeland): Incumbant, CEO of Girls, Inc.
--- Ricky Shirah (Lakeland): Towing Service Owner

LAKE ASHTON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT / SEAT 3 (Nonpartisan)
--- Jake Eaton (Lake Wales)
--- Margot Stevens (Lake Wales)

LAKE REGION LAKES MANAGEMENT DISTRICT / SEAT 1 (Nonpartisan)
--- Robert "Bob" Jardine (Winter Haven)
--- Matthew Kaylor (Winter Haven)
--- Mark Remmel (Winter Haven)