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Hernando Today

Politics begin where you live

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By JEFF SCHMUCKER

Hernando Today

Published: October 31, 2009

Brooksville - An inquiry concerning whether a school board candidate's opponent could pre-qualify to run for public office has shown that not everyone knows the ins and outs of filing for public office.

It also shines the spotlight on at least one strongly contested election race.

Vi Coogler, the first to file in the Hernando County School Board District 3 race for the 2010 election, said he recently learned that his opponent, Keane Chapman, does not live in the district. Chapman currently resides in District 4, board member James Yant's district — except his seat isn't open this upcoming election.

However, Chapman doesn't have to live in District 3 — at least not yet. Elizabeth Townsend, county community relations coordinator, said election policies state that board members can "pre-qualify" to run for office while not living in a district as long as they do live in the district when they qualify in July.

Candidates file to pre-qualify to run for office to allow them to not only prepare to qualify, but collect signatures, campaign contributions and spend that money toward becoming elected.

"I can see where it can be really confusing," Townsend said. "The rules are different for each election office."

For those running for county commissioner, she said candidates must reside within the district at the time they are elected — meaning when the county canvassing board certifies the election results. City council candidates must live in the city for a year prior to qualifying.

Coogler, who said he's heard differently from county and state agencies, said the disparity between qualifying requirements is ridiculous and believes candidates should live for at least six months in the district they're applying to prequalify.

"Everyone's got their own rules and it doesn't make any sense," Coogler said. "To be able to run for any office and not live there until you're elected is a joke. It's just stupid."

Earlier this week, Coogler said he believed that he might now be the only one in the District 3 race due to Chapman's out-of-district residence. However, Chapman said he and his wife plan to sell their house and live in District 3 well before the June 14-18 deadline.

"We will be in the district with plenty of time," Chapman said. "The truth is, my wife and I made this decision because we feel strongly that the district needs new leadership. We're moving solely so that we can be in District 3 and I can run in this race."

However, Coogler contends that if Chapman wanted to run for school board, he should've done so against Mr. Yant during the previous election.

"All I can say is 'good luck,'" Coogler said. "Because he's gonna lose."

For more information about candidate filing, go to the Hernando County Supervisor of Elections Web site at www.hernandovotes.com.

Reporter Jeff Schmucker can be reached at 352-544-5271 or jschmucker@hernandotoday.com.

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