In the Desoto Sun & Charlotte Sun newspapers

08/24/07

Candidates file for state House primaries

Two new candidates have filed for the 71st and 72nd House District seats now held by Republican incumbents Mike Grant and Paige Kreegel.

Dr. Christopher Constance, a Punta Gorda plastic and reconstructive surgeon, filed as a Republican candidate for the 71st District Seat now held by Grant, according to Florida Division of Elections records. The district includes parts of Lee, Sarasota, and Charlotte counties, including Port Charlotte.

Meanwhile, Keith Richter, a computer professional from Lehigh Acres, has filed as a Republican challenger to Kreegel for the 72nd District seat. The district includes all of DeSoto County plus portions of Lee and Charlotte counties, including Punta Gorda.

Constance is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. He received his MD from the State University of New York at Stonybrook in 1987, then trained in plastic surgery at Pennsylvania State University from 1992 to 1994.

Neither candidate could be reached for comment Wednesday. However, Richter is being represented by his campaign treasurer, who also happens to be his father, Joseph, who lives in LaBelle.

Joseph Richter said that his son is 39, a former Marine, and has run his own computer sales and service business for several years. He added that a formal candidacy announcement will be made next week at the American Legion post in Lehigh Acres.

The Richter candidacy is very much a family affair at this point. Joseph Richter said that Keith's sister, Rose Govanus, will be campaign manager, her duties for a Lee County radiology service permitting.

Both incumbents ran unopposed in the 2006 general elections. But in March, Grant announced that he would seek the District 23 Senate seat now held by Lisa Carlton, who is retiring upon reaching her term limit.

Now, Grant will square off in the January primary against an old House colleague, Nancy Detert, who represented District 70, including Venice and other parts of Sarasota County.
This left Grant's District 71 seat without an incumbent. Port Charlotte funeral director Ken Roberson, runner-up to Kreegel in the 2004 Republican primary, filed in May for Grant's House seat.

You can e-mail Bob Fliss at bfliss@sun-herald.com.
http://www.sun-herald.com/DSNewsstory.cfm?pubdate=082407&story=tp2de2.htm&folder=NewsArchive4

Political advertisement paid for and approved by Keith Richter, Republican for State House, District 72