Ruth's List, a group with a mission to get Democratic, pro-choice women elected in Florida, has set its sights on the Tampa Bay area. Chairwoman Ellis Robinson has made 10 trips from her home in Sanibel to the Tampa area since June for fundraising events and candidate training sessions. Why the interest? "In 2010 there are so many open seats for the legislature and that's one of our highest priorities," she said Tuesday night during a south Tampa fundraiser hosted by Yvonne Yolie Capin, Betty Castor and others.

They've got their work cut out for them. So far, candidates have filed to run for 16 legislative seats in the area. Only six are Democratic women. They include Stacy Frank, who's running for the Distrct 57 House seat, and Nina Hayden, who's running for the District 16 Senate seat. Both were at Tuesday's event, as was Valerie Goddard, who's running for the Hillsborough County Commission.

Robinson said she's still working to recruit candidates, in particular for the District 12 Senate seat that for now is a show down between Republicans Kevin Ambler and Jim Norman.

Janet Zink, Times Staff Writer