Harris Faces Primary Challenges As Filing Closes In Fla. ….

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Author: Wegner, Mark

Politics

Florida's noon filing deadline added a little more drama to GOP efforts to recruit a challenger against Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson, as Tampa-area developer Peter Monroe qualified for the race today. Monroe, who oversaw the state's program to liquidate assets of failed savings and loans in the 1990s, will face Rep. Katherine Harris and five other filed Republicans in the Sept. 5 primary. Increasingly doubtful about Harris' ability to oust Nelson this fall, GOP leaders unsuccessfully attempted to recruit state House Speaker Allan Bense into the race. LeRoy Collins, the son and namesake of a late Democratic governor, also filed as a Republican today. Minutes after the filing closed, a Harris spokesman released a statement saying, "We would have preferred not to have had a contested primary," but added "We expect to be victorious in September and November."

While Democrats are defending Nelson, the party is also touting candidates against GOP Reps. Clay Shaw and Mark Foley, and for the open seats of Harris and retiring GOP Rep. Michael Bilirakis. State Sen. Ron Klein is the leading Democrat against Shaw, a perennial Democratic target in the state's Atlantic Coast 22nd District. Democrats are giving Klein a national platform Saturday with the weekly Democratic radio address. As of March 31, Klein had over $1.5 million on hand and Shaw had over $2 million. President Bush helped Shaw raise another $800,000 at a Monday fundraiser. Foley faces Democratic opposition from entrepreneur Tim Mahoney in the state's 16th District, while former bank president Christine Jennings is running as a Democrat to replace Harris in her GOP-leaning 13th District. Jennings faces attorney Jan Schneider, the 2002 and 2004 Democratic nominee, in the primary. An active GOP primary for the seat includes banker Tramm Hudson, auto dealer Vern Buchanan, state Reps. Nancy Detert and Donna Clarke and former state Rep. Mark Flanagan.

The race to succeed Bilirakis in his GOP-tilting, suburban Tampa 9th District appears to be a contest between GOP state Rep. Gus Bilirakis, the incumbent's son, and former Hillsborough County Commissioner Phyllis Busansky, a Democrat. In other races, consultant Charlie Stuart, a Democrat, is challenging GOP Rep. Ric Keller in the Orlando-based 8th District. Democrats are also defending the seat of Democratic Rep. Jim Davis, who is vacating his Tampa-based 11th District to run for governor. The primary for the safe Democratic seat includes Hillsborough County Commissioner Kathy Castor and state Sen. Les Miller.

Meanwhile, filing closes today in Nevada, where GOP Sen. John Ensign faces investment consultant Jack Carter, a son of former President Carter. In Nevada's vast 2nd District, GOP Rep. Jim Gibbons' decision to run for governor has opened a GOP primary that includes former Assemblywoman Dawn Gibbons, the incumbent's wife, and state Secretary of State Dean Heller and Assemblywoman Sharron Angle. The Democrat is state university system regent Jill Derby. GOP Rep. Jon Porter faces Democrat Tessa Hafen, a former aide to Senate Minority Leader Reid.

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By Mark Wegner