Slain girl's father says he may run for office in Florida
Mark Lunsford is formerly of Springfield, Ohio.
HOMOSASSA, Fla. (AP) -- After his 9-year-old daughter's slaying two years ago, Mark Lunsford became a highly visible national advocate for tougher child protection laws. Now he says he may run for state office.
Lunsford, formerly of Springfield, Ohio, said he is considering running for the Florida House of Representatives if his district seat opens up soon.
An opening will depend on whether state Sen. Nancy Argenziano is selected to the Public Service Commission, in which case state Rep. Charlie Dean has said he would campaign to replace Argenziano. If he won, Dean's House seat would be open.
That could clear the path for Lunsford, a Republican from Homosassa, to run in a special election.
"Next week I'll know for sure," he told the Citrus County Chronicle for a story published Thursday. "I've got an appointment with someone who will help me decide. That's a big step. It's a big responsibility."
Lunsford did not return a message left on his cell phone Thursday by The Associated Press.
Lunsford, who has never run for office, said no one has talked to him about running, and he knows it won't be easy.
"There's a lot of issues at hand, not just with children," he said. "Someone like me, just a truck driver turned advocate, there's a lot I'd have to learn about what the community wants as far as working in Tallahassee."
Jessica Lunsford was 9 when neighbor John Couey kidnapped her from her bedroom, raped her and buried her alive in his yard in February 2005. He was convicted this month and a jury has recommended a death sentence. A judge will decide the penalty.
Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.