King Bails On Bid For Congress

Jim King, a Land O' Lakes Republican who sought to unseat U.S. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite, has ended his campaign.

King said in an e-mail to Hernando Today that a back injury - and the need to treat it - will keep him from mounting a fight for the 5th Congressional District seat that Brown-Waite has held since 2002.

The news means Brown-Waite, a Brooksville Republican, will sail into the general election to face the winner of a three-way Democratic primary. King was the only other Republican in the race.

The Democrats in the race are Carol Castagnero, a retired teacher from Lakeland; John Russell, a certified nurse practitioner from Dade City; and David Werder, a disabled truck driver from Spring Hill. King has provided few specific details about his back problems, but said last week that a consultation with an orthopedist had not brought encouraging news. He'd planned to visit another specialist this week.

He said Wednesday he would issue an official announcement to supporters by Monday.

Brown-Waite could not be reached for comment.