Ryan Ray
The rumors have flown about Senate District 35 for almost a year now — will former Senate President Gwen Margolis of Miami Beach call it quits before she terms out? Does she have a deal with Andrew Korge? Is Miami Beach Democratic Rep. David Richardson trying to push the dean of the Senate out of her seat by talking up plans in Miami to run for her seat ?
Wednesday’s news might not answer all of that, but we do know this:
“I’m running because I’m sick of Miami issues getting ignored in the Legislature,” Korge told FloridaPolitics.com. “People have real problems down here, and we’re spending time trying to get guns on campus? It’s a joke.”
Time would appear to be of the essence then. So why the 2020 file date?
“If that’s the price to pay to show Gwen Margolis the respect that she deserves, so be it,” said Korge, in a gesture towards Richardson’s past statements to the effect that he might even consider primarying the legendary South Florida lawmaker.
“Earlier this week I filed paperwork to run for District 35 of the Florida Senate in 2020 when Gwen Margolis, one of the great public servants in Miami’s history, is required to step down because of term limits,” Korge said earlier Wednesday in a prepared statement. “If she decides to qualify in 2016 I stand ready to knock on doors and support Sen. Margolis in every possible way. If she chooses an alternate path and the seat becomes available, I will be prepared.”
Richardson was not immediately available for comment.
