Allen resigns from House -- but not right away

Bob Allen has resigned from the Florida House of Representatives. The Merritt Island Republican, who was convicted last week on a sex solicitation charge, informed House Speaker Marco Rubio in a letter released moments ago:

"Due to requirements of my family and private life, and in order to seek justice in the upcoming appeal process, I regretfully would like to inform you that I will need to resign my elected position as the legislator for the House District 32 effective February 15, 2008, or when the Secretary of State can certify a replacement through a general election." (Here is the letter.)

Comments

Go Apryl Marie!!!!!

Go Sean Campbell!

Bobby, we hardly knew you.

Bob -- February 15 is too late. Get the hell out now. I hope he doesn't pull a Larry Craig.

The SOB is hanging around another three months!!!!

With kind regards, I remain DEMANDING THAT YOU GET OUT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What does "I need to resign mean"....

And he gives an either or.

Until a replacement can be certified through a General Election.

The next General Election is next year!!!!!!!

This Bozo is gonna hang in there until November 2008.

It is clearly a Larry Craig strategy. There are gaping holes in this letter, particularly the word "or"

"I need to resign" is not "I hereby resign effective"

This guy is toe tapping his way into staying.

Who the hell is his lawyer? Old Bobby may decide that he no longer needs to resign because circumstances have changed.

He should have copied Nixon's letter to Kissinger. Now that was a clean resignation letter.

There is a presidential primary January 29. That may be enough time to hold the primary and general.

[Ponder This]

What a bunch of pansies pulling down anything potentially negative about Apryl. Nice job Times!!!

[SPG]

I too think Apryl will make a great State House member. She is very hands on and knows how to work things very hard to make a soild difference in Tallahassee.

[Baby Jesus]

I support Apryl. I feel she has a firm grasp on the issues and her ability to come through difficult, back-breaking situations is an inspiration for all of us. Regardless of how sticky or wet the situation can be, Apryl has the ability to trim through the heavy bush to find a euphoric and mutually gratifying experience. Her flexibility and creativity have not been paralleled since MacGyver.

I hope you all support Apryl -
God Bless

she's been some 'sticky and wet' situations all right.

Miss April is not going to win.

Whats the deal Times? Is this going to be the second time you shut down a blog because people are critical of Apryl? Stop being biased and allow people to speak freely and comment on whoever they want. We can say anything about the governor, the president and any elected official in the state, but say something about Apryl and you delete or shut it down. I know the girl, love her as a friend but would fight against her if she ran for office. you gonna delete this post as well?

Bob:

In all seriousness, what public good do you expect to accomplish by waiting until February? Please don't drag the House and the constituents of your district through this needless distraction. You are not going to be serving anyone between now and then. Please, step down now and let your district move on. Then I ask you to do yourself a favor and stay away from the blogs from now on, you cannot defend yourself on blogs. Make a public apology and leave with whatever measure of dignity you have left.

Apryl Marie Fogel is crazy. Certifiably insane, really.

What was GM thinking?

Read the letter over. bob Allen can't write any more than he can stay out of parks. He is out 2-15-08. He won't be around come next session. I think he peant "Special" Election, not "General" Election. He either doesn't know the difference or didn't give the letter that much thought. He just wanted to get it over with.

I think if the Governor calls for a Special Election in that District, so its people will be represented in the upcoming session, he is OUT.

If - and a big IF at that - he is vindicated in some substantial manner by the District Court of Appeal, he is always able to seek the same or another elected office again.

Isn't Apryl the crazy girl that worked in the EOG and was told to leave or be left? Funny how she doesn't tout working for Governor Bush on her website. Very interesting.

He's gonna be living in a trailer down by the river

Oh contraire - she touts all of her eexecutive branch experience as well as working in Washington. aprylfogel.com will show you her letter says she is taking the lessons she learned working for the Governor and Congress to her diatrict. Yet, her biography has nothing other than her police explorer - let me do another cop - and her clubs in HIGH SCHOOL. Ok, what did you do Miss Apryl - 26 y/o between h.s. and now since we know you have had only one fulltime real job for less than a year?????

Voting Dawn. After the weird stuff on Campbell that we saw in Tallahassee last week and seeing that Fogel is questionable according to this article. Anything is a step up from what we have now here.

Apryl is 26 years old. The unabashed resume inflation she touts on her homepage is unbelievable. SHe is out of college for only 4 years. She could not have possibly held all those positions unless she was fired from each, or did 4 month internships in each.

She is too young and lacks the experience for the House.

Apryl, give it a rest for four years and try to hold a job where you actually achieve something sustainable and meaningful.

Apryl, let's start with spelling your name the right way - April. That's a start

At least April is single unlike Campbell who has been playing around for years. Not that the voters would care, but spouses would.

Dont throw stones dimwit, the proof is out there.

The last thing we need is someone else with no life or practical experience in the Florida House. Let's see... a successful conservative businessman of many years, or a kid who touts her high school accomplishments as being helpful to represent a district in the House of Representatives... Hmmm, let me think...

Go Sean!

I'm so glad that married Republicans, once caught trying to solicit gay sex in a public restroom have the decency to resign their office after being arrested, tried and convicted. We are an honorable party afterall. And our tent is a helluva lot bigger than we thought it was.

What happened to the good ole days of quality people - businessmen and women who have actually accomplished something in their life - running for the Legislature?

The magic of compound interest.

Officials are estimating it will cost Brevard and Orange counties over $400,000 to hold special elections to fill Bob's seat.

The $20 sexcapade is turning into a very costly indiscretion. The $400,000 expense should be added to Bob's court costs tab.