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Boulware, Williams headed to victory in House races
Sep 9, 2008 - Tallahassee Democrat

Peter Boulware, a former FSU and NFL football star, won the Republican nomination in the District 9 House race, while Alan Williams, former aide to Tallahassee Mayor John Marks, was leading in the race for the Democratic nomination for the District 8 Florida House seat.

The Associated Press declared Boulware the winner after he picked up 85 percent of the vote. He had faced a lesser-known challenger, Jerry Sutphin.

"I'm so excited," said Boulware, who was celebrating at the Old Town Cafe in Tallahassee. "I feel humbled that the voters voted for me and we got the support that we did get."

Boulware will go on to compete against Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda, a Democrat, and John Shaw, who has no party affiliation, in the Nov. 4 general election. The winner will succeed Rep. Loranne Ausley, D-Tallahassee, who faced term limits.

Williams was ahead with nearly 42 percent of the vote, according to the Florida Division of Elections. In Leon County alone, he had more than 46 percent of the vote, with 99 percent of precincts reporting. In Leon County, the next highest vote-getter was Rudy Maloy, who had 12 percent.

Williams was at an election-night party at the law offices of Sean Pittman. The winner of the Democratic primary will go on to face Robert Maddox, who has no party affiliation.

The winner of that contest will succeed Rep. Curtis Richardson, D-Tallahassee, who couldn't run again because of term limits.

In District 9, Vasilinda automatically won the Democratic nomination after a Leon circuit judge kicked Leon County School Board member Fred Varn off the ballot for failing to resign his School Board seat within time limits.

The names of Vasilinda and Varn appeared on Leon County ballots. But Supervisor of Elections Ion Sancho said election computers were programmed not to count the votes.

In the District 10 House race, Leonard Bembry was ahead in the Democratic primary. He had 58 precent, while Julie Conley had 42 percent. Don Curtis was leading in a close race for the Republican nomination with 51 percent of the vote. Mike Williams had 49 percent. The district includes all or part of Jefferson, Wakulla, Madison, Taylor and Franklin counties.

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