Winning Races Requires Candidates

With so few competitive legislative seats in Florida, you'd think Democrats would jump at a rare open seat they have a shot at winning. Take House District 50, which Democrats Al Gore and Bill Nelson won in 2000 and which Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Betty Castor last year comfortably won. John Kerry lost the district by less than 1 percent.

Republican Kim Berfield is preparing to vacate to run for state senate, and two strong Republicans, Ed Hooper and Nancy Riley, have been campaigning for months without a Democrat in the race.

That could soon change, however. Candice Jovan, a real estate agent and Pinellas organizer for the Howard Dean-created Democracy for America group, says she's seriously looking at running. Jovan, 60, works in Clearwater, lives in Safety Harbor and expects to make up her mind by year's end.

"I've been here a long time, and I've seen a lot of changes,'' Jovan said. "I've been in business. I understand people. I think I could do a very good job for the people in this area, and it's about serving people.''

Former Indian Rocks Beach city commissioner Joanna Kennedy, who ran against Republican Dennis Jones for state senate in 2002, is also considering it but worries the cash-strapped state party won't be able to help much.

"They say it's a winnable seat but basically they want you to get in there, say you're going to run, and then they'll let you know in August of next year if they're going to help you,'' said Kennedy, who works in the district but would have to move to satisfy residency requirements.