Delray Beach City Commissioner Mack Bernard has raised $22,500 and put in $15,000 of his own money for his Aug. 25 special state House race against Riviera Beach Councilman Cedrick Thomas. Thomas has raised $12,651, according to reports of activity through last Thursday.

Bernard has spent $13,198 — with $10,215 of that going to the Patriot Games consulting firm. Thomas has spent $1,460.

Bernard and Thomas, both Democrats, are running to replace Priscilla Taylor, who stepped down last month when Gov. Charlie Crist appointed her to a Palm Beach County commission vacancy.

Delray Beach City Commissioner Mack Bernard announced today he’s been endorsed by Priscilla Taylor and Addie Greene.

Bernard is hoping to outlast Riviera Beach Councilman Cedrick Thomas in the Aug. 25 election to replace Taylor, D-West Palm Beach, in the state House. Taylor was recently appointed to replace Greene on the Palm Beach County Commission.

From Bernard:

“I am honored to have the trust and support of two distinguished veteran lawmakers, both of whom previously represented District 84 in the Florida Legislature. Former State Representative Priscilla Taylor was known as someone who fought hard for the residents of the district. I realize I have some very big shoes to fill.”

Former Democratic state Rep. James Henry “Hank” Harper Jr., who this week failed to qualify for an Aug. 25 special state House election because of a paperwork mixup, will announce this afternoon that he’s endorsing Riviera Beach Councilman Cedrick Thomas in the race over Delray Beach City Commissioner Mack Bernard.

Harper noted that Thomas lives in District 84 while Bernard currently does not. The seat was represented by Priscilla Taylor until she was appointed this month to the Palm Beach County Commission.

“I know that Cedrick has been very involved in the district. It is necessary for me to support someone who has at least worked diligently in the district,” Harper said. He and Thomas are slated to appear together at a 3 p.m. news conference at Riviera Beach City Hall.

Opening a campaign and actually qualifying for a spot on the ballot are two different things in Florida. The distinction can confuse ordinary citizens or first-time candidates. It also tripped up former Democratic state Rep. James Henry “Hank” Harper Jr. on Tuesday, even though he’s been through the qualifying process three times before.

Click here to read how Harper failed to qualify for the special election to fill the state House District 84 seat.

Though he collected enough signatures to get on the ballot for a special state House election, the Florida Division of Elections says former Democratic state Rep. James Henry “Hank” Harper Jr. did not qualify for the race to replace Priscilla Taylor.

Two other Democrats — Riviera Beach Councilman Cedrick Thomas and Delray Beach City Commissioner Mack Bernard — qualified for the District 84 race before today’s noon deadline.

Harper said he was unaware of any problem with his candidate paperwork and planned to call the Division of Elections for an explanation.

“The Division of Elections did not receive qualifying papers for Mr. Harper,” a spokeswoman for the Florida Secretary of State said in an e-mail.

With no other candidates running, an Aug. 25 primary will decide who serves the final 14 months of Taylor’s House term. Taylor left her House seat when Gov. Charlie Crist appointed her to a Palm Beach County commission vacancy.

Palm Beach-Treasure Coast AFL-CIO President Pat Emmert says that, after interviewing candidates this week, the local union is recommending that the state AFL-CIO back Delray Beach Commissioner Mack Bernard in the special District 84 state House election to replace former Rep. Priscilla Taylor, who was appointed by Gov. Charlie Crist to the Palm Beach County commission.

Bernard, Riviera Beach Councilman Cedrick Thomas and former state Rep. James Henry “Hank” Harper Jr. — all Democrats — have opened campaigns for the minority-dominated, overwhelmingly Democratic seat.

The Democratic primary is Aug. 25. A general election, if needed, has been set for Sept. 22, but so far no Republicans have entered the race. The candidate qualifying deadline is noon Tuesday.

Delray Beach City Commissioner Mack Bernard announced today he’s running for the state House District 84 seat of Rep. Priscilla Taylor, D-West Palm Beach, now that Taylor has announced she’s running for Palm Beach County commission in 2010.

Former state Rep. James Henry “Hank” Harper Jr. and Riviera Beach Councilman Cedrick Thomas say they’re also interested in Taylor’s seat. Riviera Beach Councilman Shelby Lowe says a state House run is a possibility for him.

Don’t be surprised if more names emerge.

Bernard and all the potential candidates are Democrats. Dems hold roughly a 4-to-1 registration edge in Taylor’s district.

Just hours after Dave Aronberg announced support today from Broward County Property Appraiser Lori Parrish, Dan Gelber released an endorsement from former state Education Commissioner Betty Castor, the first woman elected to a Cabinet office.

Gelber and Aronberg are competing for the Democratic Party nomination to run for state attorney general, one of three spots in the Florida Cabinet.

From Castor: “I know what it takes to be an effective member of the Florida Cabinet, and Dan has the experience necessary to hit the ground running from day one in Tallahassee. For as long as I’ve known Dan, he has been one of the most effective voices for the issues we care about. His passion to stand up for change is what we desperately need in Tallahassee.”

Read Castor’s endorsement here.