By Times Staff Writer
Published September 17, 2005
State Rep. Frank Peterman, D-St. Petersburg, formally endorsed state Sen. Les Miller for Congress on Friday.
"I believe Sen. Les Miller will do a great job representing constituents living in this district. He possesses the experience, leadership and courage to effect change for the diverse population of the Tampa Bay area," said Peterman, whose House district sits in Congressional District 11.
Miller is running in a five-person primary for the overwhelmingly Democratic Tampa Bay congressional seat now held by gubernatorial candidate Jim Davis. Other Democrats in the race include Hillsborough County Commissioner Kathy Castor; Tampa lawyer Scott Farrell; lobbyist Albert Fox; and Tampa lawyer Michael Steinberg.
Castor is widely seen as the front-runner, but Miller looks like her toughest rival. He is the only African-American candidate in a district where 40 percent of voters are black. Competitive primaries for city and county seats in Hillsborough are likely to help turnout among black voters.
