Farmer to run for eastern Broward Senate seat

BY THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

With the fallout continuing from a new Senate redistricting plan, Broward County Democrat Gary Farmer said Thursday he plans to run in a newly drawn district that includes much of the eastern part of the county.

Farmer, a prominent trial attorney, said in a campaign email that he will run in the new Senate District 34. He had planned to run in the current Senate District 29, which is in more of western Broward. Sen. Jeremy Ring, a Margate Democrat who represents District 29, cannot seek re-election this year because of term limits.

Leon County Circuit Judge George Reynolds last week approved a redistricting plan after years of litigation about whether current Senate districts violate the anti-gerrymandering "Fair Districts" standards approved by voters in 2010.

While Senate leaders have left open the possibility of challenging Reynolds ruling, candidates have started making plans to run in new districts. Farmer had raised about $215,000 as of the end of November for his campaign. Updated finance reports are due next week.