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Highlands Today

Senator Alexander: 'I'm Running'

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By Gary Pinnell | Highlands Today

Published: November 30, 2007

SEBRING — A rumor that he wouldn't run for a third term in the Florida Senate is not true, J.D. Alexander confirmed Wednesday.

"I have every intention of running," said Alexander, R-Lake Wales. So far, he's the only candidate who's filed in District 17, but others, including Denise Grimsley, are keeping their eyes on the race.

On Nov. 20, the Lakeland Ledger ran a five-paragraph story.

"Rumors continue in Tallahassee that Alexander may not run in 2008," the Ledger reported. "Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Lakeland, and Rep. Denise Grimsley, R-Lake Placid, want to run for the Senate seat if Alexander doesn't run. But they don't want to wait until the week of qualifying in June of 2008 to find out if he is really pulling out. By then it could be too short of time to raise the amount of money needed and to campaign for the Aug. 26 party primary."

For Grimsley's part, that turns out to be partly true.

"I have opened my account to run for re-election to my House seat," Grimsley said last week. A registered nurse from Lake Placid, she has been appointed to the Health Care Council. "I am excited about serving."

But, she said, "Should the Senate seat become vacant, I would consider my options. Highlands County is an important part of that district."

On Wednesday, Alexander said the rumor he's not running "is wishful thinking on Rep. Ross's part. I think he's just looking for something else to do."

Ross, R-Lakeland, currently represents a portion of Polk County. An attorney, he was first elected in 2000, and re-elected three times, so he cannot run for his House seat in 2008.

On his House web site, under religious affiliation, he covers two bases, listing both Catholic and Presbyterian.

"I was born a Baptist, raised a Catholic, and married a Presbyterian," Ross explained.

Ross, 48, graduated in 1981 with a business management degree from Auburn University, and took a law degree in 1987 from Samford University in Birmingham.

Alexander pointed out he has raised $110,000 in cash from 261 contributions and loaned himself another $40,000. He has spent $100,000 on two consulting firms: Data Targeting of Gainesville and DC Navigators of Washington.

He was elected to the House three times, and ran for Senate in 2002, but he hasn't faced a tough opponent since. To ascertain whether he has enough name identification in his own district, he hired the two consultants, Alexander said.

Goals Change

Alexander has given up his goal of becoming president of the Senate.

In February 2006, Alexander said he wanted to run the Senate during his last two years in office: "I'm one of the leading candidates for president in 2010."

On Wednesday, Alexander said he realized he's not well suited for that role. "I'm supporting Sen. Atwater and Sen. Hairodopolis."

Jeffrey Atwater represents Broward and Palm Beach counties; Mike Haridopolis, covers Brevard, Indian River, Osceola and St. Lucie counties.

Alexander, a citrus grower, chairs the Agriculture and the General Government Appropriations committee. He was the majority whip from 2004-2006.

"I realized I don't have the patience to hold the hands of 40 senators. It's like herding cats," Alexander said. He is the grandson of Ben Hill Griffin, also a former representative and senator.

Ross ran 12 years ago against an incumbent, Sen. Richard E. "Rick" Dantzler, D-Bartow.

He and Alexander match too closely on the issues to run against Alexander. "J.D. and I are on the same page. I have no intention to run against J.D. I would run in an open seat. I talked to Sen. Alexander about this. He said at this time, he was running, but if he decided he wouldn't run, he would let me know."

However, he said, he is keeping his eye on the race, and if Alexander backs out, Ross will be prepared to jump in.

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