The race for the Republican nomination for Attorney General just got potentially more interesting today with the announcement that Holly Benson, until recently the Secretary of Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration, announced her candidacy today. She now joins Lieutenant Governor Jeff Kottcamp in that race.
Kottcamp took the high road today, issuing a press release today where he said:
Political competition is the foundation of a successful and vibrant democracy. I salute Ms.
Benson's desire to serve and welcome her to this year long political marathon.
Benson, who represented Pensacola in the Legislature, said today that as attorney general, she wants to work to make sure state regulations don't restrict business growth. She also said her role at AHCA would make her well-suited to fight Medicaid fraud.
Benson's entry juices up the GOP race for AG. Previously, all of the media attention has focused on the Democratic battle between South Florida state Senators Dave Aronberg and Dan Gelber
There have been rumors that Hillsborough County Assistant State Attorney Pam Bondi might also enter the race.
CL readers may remember that Benson made it into our Best of the Bay issue last month, under the ignominious title of "Best display of ignorance by a public official", for her comment on how the unemployed can stay in better shape than the working class because "you have a lot more time to go running."
This article appears in Oct 29 – Nov 4, 2009.