[Villages Kahuna]

I recall our Republican U.S. Congresswoman when we moved here was assumed to be running for a third or fourth term. Because the outcome of the primary election was almost certain, she had no primary opponent. There were no candidates in the Democratic primary either. Her only opponent in the General Election could be a write-in.

Just before the deadline for filing as a candidate in the Primary election she announced her intention to retire from Congress and withdrew her name from the election. Simultaneously, boxes containing the necessary number of signed petitions for another candidate were delivered to the Election office. The new candidate was a close friend and political associate of the retiring Congresswoman, at the time the Sheriff of Brooksville. Of course as the only candidate in the Primary and subsequent General election, he was elected to Congress.

The entire sequence was completely legal. Was it underhanded,or whatever term you’d like to apply?

By the way, the new Congressman served two terms before he retired back to his home in Brooksville. At the time of his retirement from Congress he had a campaign finance fund which had received over $9 million in contributions. This despite the fact that he never had an electoral opponent! As the only large businesses in the district, much of the money contributed to his campaign fund came from Gary Morse, The Villages, contractors, Citizens First Bank, or other businesses owned by or closely associated with The Villages. Again, all totally legal.

Being a member of the U.S. House or Senate is a sweet job.