Inmate No. T29027

Michael Scionti, D-Tampa, has some competition for his bid for re-election to the District 58 Florida House seat. Jose Vazquez filed last month to run against Scionti. The Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Office website lists no phone number for Vazquez, but it does list an inmate number and the address of the Bay Correctional Facility in Panama City. Vazquez, a Democrat, began his stay at the institution in May for a felony conviction of driving with a revoked license. He's slated for release in March 2009, but with gain time and other credits, may be out in time for the November 2008 election. Vazquez also filed to run against Scionti in 2006, but dropped out of the race. 

Comments

Good Lord!... Who's driving the short bus... Hey, Thurmandrunk!... are you even paying attention anymore, or just paying for more wine?

Is Rep Scionti back from Iraq yet? A good man and a great patriot - a real Patriot.

What exactly is Karen Thurman supposed to do about people filing for office?

I'm gonna vote for the guy that got caught.

This guy in jail running for legislature--at least you know where he stands!

8:43 - Agreed. Scionti is a very honorable man, and a great representative.

11:45 - Precisely. Jose Vazquez is a loon. Anybody can file for office, and it certainly isn't Thurman's job to stop them. If anything, that responsibility would fall on the local DECs. But even they can't PROHIBIT someone from filing. And nor should they be allowed to.

Is this the first time in Florida that someone has filed for office while still in jail?

More inmates could do this, but I wonder how many license plates you need to make to pay off the qualifying fee.

LOL