Rouson wins state representative seat

Democrat Darryl Rouson is headed for the Florida Legislature after a couple thousand voters approved him as a state representative in a general election today.

Rouson, a 52-year-old St. Petersburg lawyer, beat write-in candidate Calvester Benjamin-Anderson, a retiree and community activist, in a landslide, capturing 93 percent of the vote. He won a more difficult contest last month in a primary against two other Democrats.

He'll represent District 55, a heavily African-American area including parts of Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee and Sarasota Counties. The seat was vacated in February when Gov. Charlie Crist tapped then-Rep. Frank Peterman as secretary of the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice.

Benjamin-Anderson changed her affiliation to Republican last month. Unlike other candidates, write-in candidates are not required to pay a filing fee, election assessment or party assessment. Their names do not appear on the ballot. However, a space is provided for the candidate's name to be written on the general election ballot. The general election cost about $165,000.

Rouson has led the local chapter of the NAACP and is a member of the powerful Taxation and Budget Reform Commission.

For the results, visit the Florida Divisions of Elections Web site here.

--Stephanie Garry, Times Staff Writer