SEBRING — Carl Cool ended more than six months of speculation about whether he would run for the Highlands County Commission seat held by incumbent Republican Barbara Stewart. On Tuesday, Cool, the former chief executive officer of county government for 17 years, announced that he will run for county commissioner. Both Cool and Stewart live in the Avon Park county commission district. They will have their electoral contest decided on Aug. 26, when voters pick between them in the Republican primary election. The winner then would go against a Democrat and possibly independent candidates in the November general election. Cool said he relied on close friends and prayers to make his decision to run for political office for the first time in his life. ...more

June 10, 2008