Former state Rep. Gayle Harrell, R-Stuart, announced this morning she’ll make another run for District 81. The seat, which Harrell held until term limits forced her out last year, is currently held by Rep. Adam Fetterman, D-Port St. Lucie.

“I’ve worked to pass major legislation dealing with a wide range of issues, from seaport and homeland security to education accountability and flexibility; I’ve fought hard to improve our community. We still have a lot of work to do, and that’s why I’m looking to go back to Tallahassee and get our state back on track,” Harrell said in a statement.

Harrell made her announcement at Port St. Lucie GOP headquarters. Speaker designate Dean Cannon attended the event.

UPDATE: Reaction from Florida Democratic Party spokesman Eric Jotkoff:

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Rep. Steve Precourt, R-Orlando, logs on to www.PostOnPolitics.com during House session Friday to read the grand jury indictment of former House Speaker Ray Sansom, R-Destin. (AP Photo/Phil Coale)

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House Democrats reached into their transitive property bag today to paint Republican Leader Adam Hasner of Boca Raton as against the federal stimulus package and therefore against Gov. Charlie Crist and Florida’s families.

To do so, Democrats pulled a quote from this Post story, which, ironically, was a report about the bipartisan finger pointing in the House and the chamber’s reluctance (just like Crist) to support deep cuts or new revenues to deal with a $3 billion shortfall.

Hasner, meanwhile, defended his own honor with this press release. He insists Crist and the legislature are on the same page, and that lawmakers are just waiting for the Obama Administration to release details about the federal waiver needed to collect stimulus money for schools. Hasner writes:

“Until the Obama Administration gives their final answer on a federal waiver, the Legislature cannot accept stimulus dollars that have not been offered.”

So does this mean Republican leaders will wait to put $1 billion in stimulus money into their K-12 budget proposal until the stimulus arrives? We’ll find out this week when House lawmakers begin assembling the 2009-10 budget this week.

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