Could the Florida state senate drive 55?

Sometimes, celebrities from other fields get into politics. It's not unheard of and, often, it's a logical step from name recognition in another pursuit to being elected to office. Occasionally, those celebrities come from sports, as when former FSU and NFL football star Peter Boulware ran unsuccessfully for the state House as a Republican in 2008.

But now another even more prominent name has surfaced in a Tampa-area state Senate district...and this time, he's a Democrat.

Derrick Brooks [(right)] earned a reputation as a dominant linebacker and fearsome tackler for the Buccaneers.

But could he bring down a Republican opponent in a state Senate race?

Some Florida Democrats think so, and they're courting him to run for the District 12 state Senate seat.

When asked about it, Brooks said this: "I'm not at liberty to talk about that right now."

When pressed, he said that ever since then-Gov. Jeb Bush appointed him to the FSU Board of Trustees, people have questioned him about his political aspirations. If he does run, he said, it won't be a secret. "I'll let everyone know," he said.

"It's an interesting proposition, isn't it?" said Susan Smith, who chairs the campaign committee for the Hillsborough County Democratic Party.

(Yes, that's the Florida Progressive Coalition's own Susan Smith quoted there!)

So far, no Democrat has declared for the District 12 seat, currently held by Republican Victor Crist, who is term-limited out. As an FSU trustee and a well-known figure in the Tampa area -- not only for his gridiron exploits but also for having started a successful charter school and being an outspoken advocate on education issues -- Brooks certainly is an attractive option for the Democrats. Will he run? Only time will tell ... but I'm wagering that he will.

Florida House District 9: solidly blue or more garnet and gold?

Lately, Florida Progressive Radio's Big Show has featured some Democratic candidates for the Florida House, including Gautier Kitchen in District 9 (PDF), which is in Leon County -- as in Tallahassee, as in the home of Florida State University.

As stated on the show, District 9 has been pretty reliably Democratic over the years. But what happens if a former Seminole football hero runs for the seat -- as a Republican?

He's Peter Boulware [(right)], 32, a former FSU All-American linebacker who went on to a nine-year career with the NFL's Baltimore Ravens. The father of three children, he lives in Tallahassee and is part-owner of a Toyota dealership in the city. The seat, House District 9, is entirely within Leon County and is now held by term-limited Democrat Loranne Ausley. The district is solidly Democratic by registration, but it also fairly drips garnet and gold, the colors Boulware wore for four years.

So, will the people of District 9 vote their political interests and remain Democratic, or will the Seminole magic (at least as it was in Boulware's era) be too much to overcome? Stay tuned ...