'Average citizen' to vie for Senate seat

Calling herself an "average citizen" who wants to encourage businesses to produce good-paying jobs, Kelli Stargel has announced a run for Republican Paula Dockery's District 15 state Senate seat.

Stargel, a Republican who lives in Lakeland, was elected in 2008 and serves as the State Representative for District 64 in the Florida House.

District 15 covers portions of Polk, Hernando, Sumter, Lake and Osceola counties.

"We need to turn our state's economy around. I want to ensure that our hard-earned tax dollars and being used efficiently," Stargel said in a prepared statement.

"Most importantly we need to encourage businesses to produce good paying jobs. To do this, we must have fiscal conservatives who will control the state budget, limit taxes and wisely invest in the future," Stargel said.