Rowden for state legislator?

Diane Rowden said two years ago when she lost re-election to a third term as county commissioner, that she would step back from politics and figure out her next move.
That next move appears to be a run for the Florida House of Representatives' seat now occupied by Robert Schenck.
And in related news, it looks as if Democrat Commissioner Rose Rocco is about to get another challenger for her District 2 seat: Republican Lisa Hammond, who has steadily taken on increased governmental and community duties and told Hernando Today she may have an announcement to make in the next few days.
Rumors about Rowden and Hammond have been escalating. Former Planning and Zoning Commissioner Anna Liisa Covell has already written on her blog that Rowden "has her eye" on Schenck's legislative seat.
Covell also said on her blog that Hammond "has been quietly seeking support for a run" at Rocco's District 2 commission seat.
Cy Wingrove, chairman of the Hernando County Democratic Executive Committee, confirmed Tuesday that Rowden made the announcement at the DEC's December meeting and that she plans to make it official on the steps of the courthouse Jan. 23.
Wingrove said he will support Rowden or whatever Democrat is vying for the seat because "that's my job."
Wingrove declined to comment further.
"My philosophy is that's a decision made between the candidate, the candidate's family and close personal friends," he said.
Schenck, a Republican who was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2006, was re-elected to another two-year term in 2008.
Florida Statutes limit House members to four two-year terms and may not serve longer than eight consecutive years.
Schenck said he believes his record will continue to resonate with District 44 voters when they go to the polls, even if Rowden is on the ballot.
"I think the people spoke rather clearly a year-and-a-half ago when they voted out tax-and-spend big government incumbents," he said.

Rowden: Not a quitter

After losing her bid for a third term on the county commission in 2008, Rowden told Hernando Today she was not a quitter and planned to regroup and figure out her next step.
Rowden, who retired as a flight attendant for Delta Airlines in 2002, was elected to the school board in the 1990s and led the charge to change the position of school superintendent from elected to appointed.
While there, she helped enact an anti-nepotism policy.
And during her tenure, the governor suspended Rowden after it was determined she broke the Government-in-the-Sunshine Law by talking to a fellow school board member outside the confines of a public meeting.
Rowden said she never had any intent to do anything wrong and admitted her tenure on the school board was "all about helping kids."
Rowden told Hernando Today she learned from that mistake and the voters forgave her in 2000 when she ran as a Democrat for county commissioner from District 3 against Republican Carey Carlson.
Her platform stayed pretty much the same throughout her long tenure: controlling county growth by requiring developers not only to pay for much of the infrastructure in their proposed projects but also requiring them to be more upfront about designs and scope.
She was also a strong environmental advocate who voted against her colleagues during the debate to change the comprehensive plan to allow a 1,750-home subdivision called Hickory Hill in Spring Lake.
She beat Carlson in 2000 and won reelection in 2004.

Hammond: 'Stay tuned'

Meanwhile, Hammond was recently appointed to a four-year term on the county's planning and zoning commission, having previously served as an alternate member.
"I do live in Rocco's district so if I was going to run, that would be the district," said Hammond, who lives in Hernando Beach and works for a grant management company.
Hammond is also one of the founders of the Hernando Youth Initiative, which explores ways to keep students in school and addresses issues of teen pregnancy, drug and alcohol abuse and domestic violence.
"I have a real passion for kids and a real passion for kids' succeeding," she said.
"All I can say is stay tuned," Hammond said when asked to comment on Covell's blog statement.

Rocco says she is ready for the chair

In September, Democrat Rocco successfully acquired the 1,230 signatures needed to place her name on the 2010 November ballot.
Republicans William Kingeter, Lewis Tumia and Wayne Dukes are vying for Rocco's District 2 seat.
No Democrats have pre-qualified for the seat yet.
Rocco said Hammond, along with anyone else, is free to run against her in this year's election. She is not overly concerned.
As for Rowden: "It wouldn't come as a surprise to me that she would be looking for another position," she said.
Rocco also said she is hopeful she will be appointed chairwoman of the county commission this year. Rocco said she has been vice chairwoman two years running and is ready to move to the chairmanship.