Former Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink announced Wednesday that she will run for the congressional seat made vacant by the death of long-time Republican Rep. C.W. "Bill" Young,
the Miami Herald reports.
Sink, 65, a Democrat who lost the 2010 gubernatorial race in a close battle with Republican Rick Scott, plans to move into the district around Clearwater. She currently lives 45 minutes outside the district in Thonotosassa, on the other side of Tampa Bay.
"Washington's broken,"
Sink told the Tampa Bay Times. "I, like everybody else I know, is angry and mad about the logjam, about shutting down the government, about not understanding the impact it was going to have on small businesses and people."
Sink said she has a proven history as a problem solver and as someone who can work with Republicans. In addition to serving as the state's CFO, Sink once ran Bank of America's Florida operations.
Young died at age 82 on Oct. 18 after serving in Congress for 42 years. His widow, Beverly,
told the Times she would consider running for the seat if no other suitable Republican came forward.
That could set up a family feud, as their son Billy Young is also considering a run.
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