6/21/2008
Qualified
Traditionally, the day after the candidate qualifying deadline is the time to lament the breakdown of democracy and the number of offices held by people who never had face an opponent.
Yup, there's a lot of that this year. But the Legislative field is a little better than usual. And that goes along with longtime political rule o' thumb: Few contested races right after a redistricting; more contested races after a six or more years of population movement has taken the edge off the gerrymandering.
Anyway, The Buzz has the numbers:
+ In the state Senate, 21 seats were up for grabs.
+ Seven open races with no incumbent (Senate districts 9, 23, 24, 29, 31, 35, 37)
+ I count 11 Senate races with both major parties fielding candidates
+ In the state House, 120 seats were up for grabs.
+ 32 open races with no incumbent
+ 54 incumbents face challengers
+ And I count 54 races with both major parties fielding candidates.
The Division of Elections' candidate list is here.
Meanwhile in the local listings, the House district where I live -- Dist. 26 now represented by Pat Patterson, R-DeLand -- will have an actual two-party race with the qualifying of my former colleague Barry Flynn. Barry's living the dream by jumping from observing things as a reporter and editor to entering the fray himself as a Democrat.
Another former colleague, Carl Laundrie, is running for Flagler Supervisor of Elections as an independent.
Nobody ran against the Volusia School Board incumbents this year, proving again what a lousy job they have because of school funding cuts.
Yup, there's a lot of that this year. But the Legislative field is a little better than usual. And that goes along with longtime political rule o' thumb: Few contested races right after a redistricting; more contested races after a six or more years of population movement has taken the edge off the gerrymandering.
Anyway, The Buzz has the numbers:
+ In the state Senate, 21 seats were up for grabs.
+ Seven open races with no incumbent (Senate districts 9, 23, 24, 29, 31, 35, 37)
+ I count 11 Senate races with both major parties fielding candidates
+ In the state House, 120 seats were up for grabs.
+ 32 open races with no incumbent
+ 54 incumbents face challengers
+ And I count 54 races with both major parties fielding candidates.
The Division of Elections' candidate list is here.
Meanwhile in the local listings, the House district where I live -- Dist. 26 now represented by Pat Patterson, R-DeLand -- will have an actual two-party race with the qualifying of my former colleague Barry Flynn. Barry's living the dream by jumping from observing things as a reporter and editor to entering the fray himself as a Democrat.
Another former colleague, Carl Laundrie, is running for Flagler Supervisor of Elections as an independent.
Nobody ran against the Volusia School Board incumbents this year, proving again what a lousy job they have because of school funding cuts.
Labels: Elections, Legislature
