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The state representative says she will seek Peter Altman's seat on the County Commission.
By SAUNDRA AMRHEIN, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published February 19, 2003
With the dust barely settled from her re-election bid to the state House, Heather Fiorentino is picking a new fight.
The Republican representative from New Port Richey filed Friday to run for the Pasco County Commission in 2004 for the seat held by Peter Altman.
Fiorentino, 45, a former colleague of Altman's on the New Port Richey City Council, said Tuesday that she decided to file early to resolve any doubts about her intentions not to seek another term. She has said earlier that she would leave office to run for the commission. Now anyone interested in seeking her seat in District 46 can get an early start, she said. No one has filed.
Fiorentino also can begin fundraising between now and the start of the legislative session in March, when fundraising must cease.
The County Commission job pays about three times as much as a state representative's position. Fiorentino said she chose not to seek a fourth term to the House so she can be closer to home for her daughter's junior and senior years in high school.
"If you're going to talk family values and say you're going to run on them, you have to start at home," Fiorentino said.
Also, many calls from constituents involve local problems, she said.
"I don't feel that in the past the best representation of the people has occurred in that district," she said.
Altman, a Democrat, said it is too soon for him to comment on whether or not he'll seek re-election.
"It seems hard for me to understand when someone has just taken a job in one area with so many critical issues before us . . . (to be occupied) by political strategy at this point," Altman said.
"We've all got a full plate, and I can't imagine considering myself announcing or running for office when there is so much unfinished business to do," he added. "When I get close to the end of my term and have a sense of how productive I've been and what remains to be done and what I might be able to contribute to that, then I'll make my decision."