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Politics

District 61 vacancy quickly attracts interest

A replacement for Rep. Ken Littlefield's House seat will be chosen soon. How and when are still unclear.

By MOLLY MOORHEAD
Published September 15, 2006

A day after Rep. Ken Littlefield earned an appointment to the Public Service Commission, Bill Bunting's phone started ringing.

No fewer than seven people called the Pasco Republican Party chairman to express interest in the soon-to-be-vacated state House seat for District 61.

One catch: Littlefield is still deciding when to resign, and that leaves a smattering of scenarios for how his seat will be filled.

"We just want to make sure that whatever happens is the right thing to do," Littlefield said Thursday.

There is certainly no shortage of interest. Among the Republicans reached Thursday who said they are considering a run for the seat are Dade City Commissioner Steve Van Gorden and east Pasco businessman Wilton Simpson. Dade City Mayor Hutch Brock acknowledged being contacted about running but was noncommittal.

Littlefield, R-Wesley Chapel, has held the seat since 1999, when he won it in a special election to replace his brother. He was seeking a final two-year term this year and applied for one of two vacancies on the Public Service Commission, which oversees utilities in Florida. Gov. Jeb Bush appointed him this week, so Littlefield will resign from the House before taking the $128,800-a-year commission post in January.

If he steps down now, Republicans could name a replacement nominee to run against Democrat Donovan Brown in the Nov. 7 general election.

Pasco Supervisor of Elections Kurt Browning said that person's name might make it onto the ballot if he gets the name soon. Otherwise, Littlefield's name would remain and any vote for him would count for the replacement.

Choosing that person will be left to Bunting, Pasco state committee members John Renke and Joan Kelley, and their counterparts in Hillsborough County. District 61 covers much of northeast and central Pasco and a small block in Hillsborough.

Should Littlefield see the House race to the end, and win, his resignation would trigger a special election.

If more than one candidate emerges from each party, there would be a special primary followed by a special general election, Browning said. It would be on a compressed timetable.

If he does continue campaigning, Littlefield said, he won't accept any more contributions. And he'll return the money he has accepted from utility interests regulated by the commission. "So there's no appearance of impropriety in it."

Campaign records show Littlefield has collected $29,420.68 in contributions through Aug. 31. Of that, at least $5,000 came from utility interests.

Brown, a political newcomer who has raised $1,875.40 for his campaign, could not be reached Thursday.

The District 61 seat was created after the 1990 census. It has never been held by a Democrat.

Bunting declined to name any of the people who contacted him Thursday.

"I don't want to discourage anyone from coming forward if they think they're a viable candidate if they live on (the east) side of the county," he said.

Van Gorden, a school principal who has lived in Dade City nine years, said he's a sure contender. "You'll definitely see Steve Van Gorden's name in that race," the 31-year-old said.

Simpson, 40, said he's only in the consideration stage. "I've enjoyed politics since I've been in high school," said Simpson, who is originally from Trilby. "I enjoy the debate. I enjoy what can be accomplished from those positions for the community.

Cathi Compton, a former City Council member in Zephyrhills, is considered by some an up-and-comer in the Republican Party. She faces a runoff in November against Allen Altman for the District 1 Pasco School Board seat. She said Thursday she's focused on that and would evaluate other options that come up.

Brock, 41, who grew up in Dade City, declined to say who called him about running, and declined to say whether he will.

A version of this story appears in some regional editions of the Times.

[Last modified September 15, 2006, 06:18:35]