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It looked like Bill Carlson might coast to re-election without opposition, until just hours before the qualifying deadline on Friday.
That’s when Casper Co. CEO Blake Casper joined the race in the 11th hour, setting up a two-person race that will be decided on March 7.
Drawing Casper may spell bad news for Carlson. A Frederick Polls survey found him at a disadvantage against a hypothetical candidate, with 49% of respondents saying they would vote for someone else and 43% saying they would support the incumbent.
The Casper Co. owns some 60 McDonald’s fast food restaurants across Florida, most in Tampa.
– Staff reports, Florida Politics