The price of politics

So you want to be a county commissioner?

If so, you'll have to shell out $3,751 for the honor. Or, if you don't feel like reaching into the wallet, you can go the cheap route and present the supervisor of elections staff with 1,231 valid signatures from people who support your run.

The most expensive office in town? That would be running for sheriff, which would cost you more than $7,500 to prequalify for, because the salary is the highest for any elected official.

The cheapest: Brooksville City Council, where a mere $216 gets you in the running.

This election year is bringing out more candidates than usual and many are running for office for the first time.

But the process for qualifying and getting your name on the ballot varies depending on the race and the salary of the position.

Supervisor of Elections Annie Williams said none of the money candidates pay out for a qualifying fee stays in Hernando County. It all goes to the state, she said.

All qualifying fees are nonrefundable, so if candidates lose the election they can't ask for a refund.

The only way the fee is returned is if the candidate withdraws before the last date to qualify.

If a candidate dies before an election and has not withdrawn his or her candidacy, the fee is returned to a designated beneficiary.

Williams said there is an incentive for candidates to pound the pavement and get the signatures rather than shell out what can be big money for many people.

And she said there are cases where people drop out of the race if they fail to obtain the required signatures. But not that many, she said.

The Supervisor of Elections Office has released the following 2012 candidate qualifying information for those still seeking to throw their hat in the political ring.

County commissioner

Each candidate must plunk down a $3,751.38 qualifying fee, which represents 6 percent of the job's $62,523 annual salary.

If a candidate chooses to run other than a Democrat or Republican, and instead chooses a minor party affiliation, independent candidate or opts for no party affiliation, the fee is $2,500.92.

Former County Commissioner Rose Rocco opted to collect signatures instead of plunking down money each of the three times she ran for the position.

"I think it's a much better way to go," Rocco said. "You can speak to the constituents, they get to know you and you get a feel for what the people want. It's a much more personable way to go.

"Anyone can throw money on the table," she said.

Democrat Rocco, who is running this year for Florida House of Representatives District 44 against incumbent Republican Robert Schenck, said she is again going the signature route and has almost collected the required number, which in that race is 518.

The candidate must also live in the county commission district at the time of being elected to office. Florida statutes interpret "elected" to mean the day the county canvassing board certifies the election results.

That state law came about because of a controversy that erupted in 2006 in Hernando County that involved Rocco.

Rocco defeated longtime incumbent Commissioner Nancy Robinson, a Republican, in the 2006 general election. Robinson filed suit against Rocco, claiming her opponent violated state law by not living in the district on the day of election.

Rocco countered by saying she was in the process of moving at the time and that satisfied the regulations.

Several weeks later, Circuit Judge John Booth ruled that Rocco was eligible to be seated as the duly elected county commissioner because a person isn't "elected" until the canvassing board certifies the results and provides a certificate of election to the person.

Robinson's attorneys disputed the ruling and appealed to the Florida 5th District Court of Appeals, which reviewed the matter and sided with Booth in a 2008 decision.

Brooksville council

Running for a seat on the Brooksville City Council is a bargain compared with county commissioner.

A $216 qualifying fee is all that's needed. That represents 4 percent of board members' annual salary of $5,400.

Brooksville city council candidates do not have the option of collecting signatures to get on the ballot. It's either pay or don't run.

Candidates must have lived in the city of Brooksville for at least one year immediately before qualifying.

School board

To get on the ballot for school board, candidates must pay $1,327, or 4 percent of the annual salary of the $33,180-per-year, nonpartisan position.

Like county commissioners, they have the option of paying the fee or producing 1,231 valid signatures.

School board candidates must reside in the school board district at the time of qualifying.

Constitutional offices

Candidates for each of the five elected constitutional offices are allowed to collect 1,231 signatures to get on the ballot.

Otherwise, the qualifying fees are as follows:

• Sheriff: $7,750.98 (6 percent of annual salary of $129,183)

• Property appraiser, clerk of the circuit court and tax collector: $7,235.22 (6 percent of annual $120,587 salary).

• Supervisor of elections: $6,151.44 (6 percent of annual $102,524 salary).