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Republican Chris Scherer, a local business owner, is the first candidate to file for the Pinellas County Commission District 1 seat for the 2024 cycle.
The seat is currently held by longtime Commissioner Janet Long, a Democrat who is not expected to seek re-election.
Assuming Long doesn’t run, it sets up an open race for a seat Republicans have been eyeing. Scherer’s entrance comes after Republicans in the November midterms won back a majority on the Commission. A GOP victory in District 1 next year would increase that majority from 4-3 to 5-2.
Scherer filed in February but announced Tuesday.
– Peter Schorsch, Florida Politics, The Tampa Bay 100