State Rep. Loranne Ausley said Thursday she has received many calls from friends and supporters over the last several weeks "strongly encouraging'' her to run for chief financial officer and, while she is considering it, she will wait until after the holidays to make her decision.

"While these calls are flattering, the only thing that matters to me is serving where I can have a meaningful impact - helping real people,'' she wrote in an email to the Herald/Times while taking a break from the Lawton Chiles Foundation board meeting she is attending.

"There is no doubt that we need real leaders who make decisions that make our state stronger for the next generation. CFO is an important office that can have a huge impact on the daily lives of Floridians, especially in these very tough times. So, with all that in mind I'm seriously considering entering the race but I won't make any final or official decision until after the first of the year.

"Meanwhile, I am planning to spend the next few weeks enjoying the holidays with my family, while I continue to reach out to friends and supporters to best determine how I can most effectively serve the public.''

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