Dan Gelber

State Representatives Darryl Rouson (D-Tampa), Janet Long (D-Seminole), Michael Scionti (D-Tampa), Bill Heller (D-St. Petersburg) and Betty Reed (D-Tampa) today announced their endorsement of Senator Dan Gelber (D-Miami Beach) as Florida’s next Attorney General.

Rep. Darryl Rouson said, “Floridians need strong leaders who are going to fight for their rights and protect them from unscrupulous practices. I witnessed Dan’s strong leadership skills on the House Floor and as Florida’s next Attorney General, he will continue to be a voice of reason on reforming the status quo and the way business is done in Tallahassee.”

Rep. Janet Long said, “After serving with Dan for two years in the Florida House , I know he will stand up to protect Floridians who have been victims of fraud and dishonest practices. He has the mindset and courtroom experience we need in our next Attorney General. I am proud to endorse Dan in his new journey to serve the people of Florida as their Attorney General.”

Rep. Michael Scionti said, “Having served with Dan, I know he will lead the charge to protect consumers and be a real voice for everyday Floridians. Dan has fought against public corruption and wasteful spending and will put his skill sets to work as Florida’s next Attorney General.”

Rep. Bill Heller said, “I have met few individuals who share Dan’s passion and drive to bring change to Florida. Working families across our state need Dan in Tallahassee and on the Cabinet working to keep our communities safe. I am proud to stand with him because he is the type of leader we need working on behalf of Floridians. ”

Rep. Betty Reed said, “I am supporting Dan because he is never afraid to take a stand and fight for what is right. He has always been the first to demand accountability and has long been a champion of transparency and an open government.”

“Our state faces enormous challenges and we need leaders in Tallahassee that will stand up to change the status quo,” said Sen. Gelber. “Floridians need a stronger commitment to public safety and consumer protections from our state government. I want to bring about that commitment to keep Floridians safe at home and in their communities.”

Dan Gelber was elected to the State House of Representatives in 2000, serving as the House Democratic Leader from 2006-2008; and elected to the State Senate in 2008. Prior to elected life, Dan spent nearly a decade as a federal prosecutor, working mostly on public corruption, narcotics and civil rights cases, and serving as a top deputy in that office. He was then appointed chief counsel and staff director for the United States Senate’s investigations committee where he focused primarily on terrorism and domestic security. Dan is an AV rated attorney and listed in various peer review publications including Best Lawyers in America and Florida’s Legal Elite. He and his wife Joan Silverstein make their home in Miami Beach with their three children. For more information about Dan Gelber, please visit www.dangelber.com.

Holly Benson

The race for Florida attorney general may be one of the hottest contests in 2010, but the presumed Republican frontrunner has yet to step in the ring.

Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp, a former legislator from North Fort Myers, promised an announcement at the end of June. Kottkamp was in his Fort Myers office on Thursday and could not be reached for comment.

As his supporters wait, and the Ethics Commission weighs a complaint about his use of state airplanes, the name of a potential primary opponent has surfaced: Holly Benson, secretary of the Agency for Health Care Administration and a former lawmaker from Pensacola.

“She’s a bright, articulate, young woman and a lot of people are looking to her as a potential opponent for Kottkamp in that race,” Sally Bradshaw, a veteran GOP strategist and former campaign manager for Gov. Jeb Bush, said during a discussion of recent poll results on a political Web-cast sponsored by Sachs Communications.

Benson on Thursday would only say she is weighing her options.

“Folks have asked me about it,” Benson said. “They’re looking for a lawyer and the party needs some diversity.”

For a time, Kottkamp considered running for governor, but he has backed current Attorney General Bill McCollum in that race.

In May, Kottkamp said he was leaning to the attorney general race. “I’m giving very serious consideration, most likely, to attorney general,” Kottkamp said then.

He said that would allow him to emphasize his strengths from working as a lawyer, a member of the Legislature and lieutenant governor.

Both Benson, 38, and Kottkamp, 48, owe their current jobs to Gov. Charlie Crist. Like Kottkamp, Benson was first elected to the House in 2000. Both were serving in the House when Crist came calling, selecting Kottkamp as a running mate during the campaign for governor; and Benson to head the Department of Business and Professional Regulation once he was elected. Crist named Benson to her current post in February 2008.

Benson said she has no timetable for making a decision. However, she said she is hesitant to leave the agency at a time when Congress is debating a massive overhaul of the nation’s health care system and at a time when her agency is about to roll out a major, electronic health records initiative.