IN TERMS OF FAIR PLAY, AND OTHER CONGRESSIONAL RACE NOTES

The First District Court of Appeal in Tallahassee ruled late Friday that notices can be posted or be made available at polling places in the 16th Congressional District to inform voters that a vote for former Republican Congressman Mark Foley will actually be counted for State Representative Joe Negron, who party leaders chose to replace Foley on the ballot.

Foley resigned in the wake of a scandal involving inappropriate e-mails and other communication with current and former congressional pages. His resignation came after the ballots for the November 7 general election had already been printed.

However, the unanaimous decision stated that such notices must also include information about the other two candidates for the congressional seat, Democrat Tim Mahoney and independent Emmie Ross.

You can read the decision by clicking here (.pdf file).

Also, the Cook Political Report has moved the 16th District race from "Lean Democratic" to a "Toss Up" as Negron has apparantly gained ground in the eight county district. And in the 13th District race between Republican Vern Buchanan and Democrat Christine Jennings, it was moved from a "Toss Up" to "Lean Democratic" catagory.