Pam Bondi has staked out some interesting political ground during her first three years as Florida Attorney General.
She was the lead attorney in the lawsuit attempting to declare Obamacare unconstitutional. She lost.
Bondi was forced to apologize after cancelling the execution of killer Marshall Lee Gore because the execution date conflicted with a political fundraiser she was having.
She added Florida's name to a tough Arizona immigration law that she felt needed Florida's support in the courts. Bondi opposes gay marriage although she has not taken any action beyond restating her objection.
This would seem to make Bondi ripe for Democratic opposition next year. But up until today, the Democrats appeared to have difficulty finding a candidate.
Now they have one - George Sheldon, 66, who has served in a wide variety of capacities in Tallahassee and Washington. He is resigning, effective immediately, from his current post as Acting Assistant Secretary for Children and Families, US Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services.
Sheldon began his career working for then state Sen. Reubin Askew. He was elected to the state House in 1974 and left in 1982. In 2000, Sheldon ran for education commissioner against then-Republican Charlie Crist. Sheldon lost. Two years later, Sheldon ran for attorney general and lost in the Democratic primary to Buddy Dyer (now Orlando Mayor). Crist defeated Dyer.
Could Sheldon have a Crist jinx?
He may find out when Crist finally announces that he is a candidate for governor.
Meanwhile, Bondi has handed the Democrats some clear issues to use in the 2014 campaign. The best thing she may have going for her right now is that the Democratic Party is a shadow of its former self.
It's been a long time since Democrats have dominated statewide.
Sheldon's statement:
Here's Sheldon's announcement:
"This past Friday I officially resigned as Assistant Secretary for the United States Department of Health and Human Services and today I am announcing my candidacy for Attorney General for Florida. As Deputy Attorney General for Bob Butterworth I know the potential that office holds for protecting our families and taking on any one or any corporation that would threaten us. Taking on predatory lenders, human traffickers, and those who engage in deceptive practices is the job of the Attorney General…not working full time trying to deny health insurance to children and anyone with preexisting conditions. This race is about character. Who has the experience and character to use the office of attorney general for general good rather than as a personal, political, partisan platform. I hope you agree that my experience in Florida’s Attorney General office, serving as Secretary of Children and Families in Florida, and as Assistant Secretary at the United States Department of Health and Human Services allows me to serve as Florida’s Attorney General. I’m proud that children and families have been in my job title for almost a decade and that protecting has been a job description. It is time to restore integrity in the Attorney General office. Together we can do it. I ask for your vote, your help, your time and your prayers. Together we can restore character to the office of attorney general. "
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