Candidates get jump on '08
Four join an early parade in filings, including a challenger in House District 44.
By BARBARA BEHRENDT AND TOM MARSHALL, Times Staff Writers
Published October 23, 2007
BROOKSVILLE - The 2008 general election is more than a year off, but numerous candidates for city, county and even state offices have already filed paperwork to run.
Four more candidates in four separate races have done just that in recent days.
They include a Democrat challenging incumbent Republican Robert Schenck for the District 44 state House seat; a third Republican candidate in the race for the District 1 County Commission seat held by Jeff Stabins; a second candidate seeking the District 4 School Board seat held by Jim Malcolm; and the first candidate filing to run for Brooksville City Council.
Here's a look at the four candidates:
- Aaron K. Whitaker, 31, is seeking to unseat Schenck. An Orlando native who came to Hernando County eight years ago, Whitaker works for the Hernando County School District, where he uses technology to aid students with special needs.
This is Whitaker's first run for public office. He said he has been watching politics for many years and has been concerned about high property insurance and taxes and school budget issues. The Brooksville resident said now is the right time for him to seek office to help with those and other state issues. Schenck is seeking re-election.
- "Jaz" Jon Zydenbos, 62, pre-filed his paperwork to run for the District 1 County Commission seat last week. A resident of Weeki Wachee, the Realtor, mortgage broker and notary said he is running because he is fed up with current county leaders.
"Our government is certainly not representing its constituents," Zydenbos said, singling out Stabins. "It's very, very evident."
Stabins, also a Republican, is seeking re-election. Spring Hill resident Michael Burmann is also seeking the seat.
- James C. Yant of Spring Hill has joined the District 4 race for a seat on the Hernando County School Board.
Yant, 61, served eight years as a member and chairman of the Pasco-Hernando Community College board of trustees. He runs the J.C. Yant Insurance Agency.
Also vying for that seat is parent Courtney Rinier of Masaryktown. The incumbent, four-term veteran Jim Malcolm, said he hasn't decided whether to file for another term in the nonpartisan race.
- Cecil D. Davis IV is making another run at Brooksville City Council. He is seeking Group Seat No. 2, the seat held by David Pugh. Davis waged an unsuccessful campaign last year.
Davis, 27, is a lifelong Brooksville resident who owns Davis Enterprises, a general metal fabricating shop in South Brooksville. He said he is seeking the job to make a contribution toward the city's future direction. "Brooksville's my home," he said.
Pugh has not yet filed paperwork announcing his intent to seek re-election. City Council candidates run nonpartisan.
Barbara Behrendt can be reached at behrendt@sptimes.com or 352 848-1434.