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Kotkamp to file for AG

Posted Jul 19, 2009 by William March

Updated Jul 19, 2009 at 10:35 PM

The Tribune’s Catherine Dolinski reports from Tallahassee that Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp, long expected to run for attorney general, will file his candidacy papers Monday morning.

Still uncertain is whether Kottkamp will face an opponent in the Republican primary, but he’s likely to be considered the frontrunner, at least initially, if he does.

Several prominent Republicans including state Reps Dean Cannon of Winter Park, Bill Galvano of Bradenton and Tom Grady of Naples have all considered entering the race and decided against it.

Rumors have circulated for months that former House Speaker Marco Rubio would abandon his U.S. Senate campaign to run for AG, but Rubio has vehemently denied it.

One name stirring interest is Holly Benson, head of the state Agency for Health Care Administration, who confirmed recently that people have talked to her about it and didn’t deny she’s interested.

Will McBride, an Orlando lawyer with ties to the party’s religious conservative base, also is considering the race. McBride ran unsuccessfully against Katherine Harris in the 2006 Republican U.S. Senate primary.

Democrats have a contested primary for attorney general: State Sens. Dave Aronberg of Greenacres and Dan Gelber of Miami Beach are running, and former state Sen. Rod Smith of Alachua is considering it.