With the qualifying deadline for candidates looming Friday, pay close attention to the District 3 Hillsborough County Commission and District 12 State Senate races. So far four Democrats -- Kevin White, Les Miller, Valerie Goddard and Dwight Bolden -- have filed to run for the District 3 commisison seat now held by White. And two Republicans -- Jim Norman and Kevin Ambler -- are running for the District 12 Senate seat. If no one from any other party or with no party affiliation jumps into those races, the August primaries will be open to all voters. That means Democrats will be able to choose between Norman and Ambler, and Republicans will be able to consider, White, Miller, Goddard and Bolden. Stay tuned.

Janet Zink, Times Staff Writer