Longtime Hillsborough County Assistant State Attorney Pam Bondi officially announced today that she is a candidate for the Republican nomination for Attorney General.
Bondi joins Lieutenant Governor Jeff Kottcamp and former health administrator Holly Benson in the race.
For months, the telegenic Bondi, frequently seen on cable television as a commentator on the legal issues of the day, has been rumored to be getting into the race.
Bondi has served in the Hillsborough County State Attorney's Office for 18 years, the last 9 under Republican Mark Ober, and before that under the late Harry Lee Coe, a Democrat.
It will the 44 year old Bondi's first run for public office.
For some reform minded Republicans upset about the direction of the state party in recent years under Jim Greer, she could be a candidate to get fired up about.
GOP political consultant CL contributor Chris Ingram wrote today,
This is bad news for trial lawyers Jeff Kottkamp who happens to be Florida’s Lieutenant Governor and a man who is best known for flying around the state to go to party’s, fund raisers, and football games in state airplanes — and at taxpayer expense.
But it is great news for the voters of Florida and more specifically, Republican Primary voters. They will have the opportunity to send a message to Charlie Crist, state Republican Party Chairman Jim Greer, and the rest of the “leaders” of the party establishment that they’ve had enough. Enough double-talk. Enough pandering. And enough ignoring of the looming fiscal, transportation, education, and insurance crisises of the state.
CL hopes to speak with Bondi soon. A call to the State Attorney's Office informed us that Bondi is no longer with the office, with yesterday being her last day.
This article appears in Nov 25 – Dec 1, 2009.