7 vie for Benson's House seat

Elections officials have scheduled a vote for the Florida State Representative Seat 3. The seat was vacated by Anna Holiday "Holly" Benson as a result of her appointment to Secretary of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation by Governor Charlie Crist.

The candidates include: Elizabeth C. Campbell (DEM), C. V. (Clay) Ford (REP), Lyn T. Hart (REP), John R. Johnson (NPA), Brett Price (NPA), George Scarborough (REP) and John H. Wyche (DEM). Primary elections begin Tuesday, Feb. 6 with early voting beginning Monday, Jan. 29. The voting schedule is as follows.

Early Voting for Special Election: Monday, Jan. 29 through Saturday, Feb. 3 (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) Sites include Elections Office, 6495 Caroline St., Milton (behind McDonald's) and the South Service Center, 5841 Gulf Breeze Pkwy., east of The ZOO.

Special Primary Election: Tuesday, Feb. 6 (7 a.m. to 7 p.m.) Three (3) ways to vote:

at your precinct, by requesting an absentee ballot or early voting.

Early Voting Dates: Monday, Jan. 29 through Saturday, February 3 (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.).

Absentee Voting: Last day for requesting absentees to be mailed: Wednesday, Jan. 24. To request absentees, call the Elections Office at (850) 983- 1900, fax (850) 626-7688 or email soebodenstein@ co.santa-rosa.fl.us. Absentee voting begins Jan. 26.