Suit filed to get Cocoa Mayor off ballot in HD 51

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A lawsuit filed in Tallahassee Tuesday seeks to have Democrat Mike Blake removed from the ballot in House District 51 because he failed to resign as mayor of Cocoa before qualifying for the House race this month, the Orlando Sentinel reported via the News Service of Florida.

The lawsuit was filed by Republican lawyer Richard Coates on behalf of a registered Democratic voter in the district. Under the state resign-to-run law, candidates much quit one office when they run for another.  Election Day is Nov. 6 and if Blake were to win that’s when he would take office. Technically he’d still be mayor of Cocoa. The lawsuit seeks an injunction to remove Blake, the Sentinel reported. The district, including most of Cocoa Beach and Rockledge on the Space Coast, is generally thought to favor Republicans. Rep. Steve Crisafulli, R-Merritt Island, would be Blake’s opponent if Blake remains on the ballot.

Peter Schorsch is the President of Extensive Enterprises and is the publisher of some of Florida’s most influential new media websites, including SaintPetersBlog.com, FloridaPolitics.com, ContextFlorida.com, and Sunburn, the morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics. SaintPetersBlog has for three years running been ranked by the Washington Post as the best state-based blog in Florida. In addition to his publishing efforts, Peter is a political consultant to several of the state’s largest governmental affairs and public relations firms. Peter lives in St. Petersburg with his wife, Michelle, and their daughter, Ella.