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Brian Blair announces for state House seat

News Channel 8 file photo by MICHAEL EGGER

Several other prominent Republicans have said they're interested in running for the seat Brian Blair plans on pursuing.

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By WILLIAM MARCH | The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 13, 2009

TAMPA - Former Hillsborough County Commissioner Brian Blair has made it official — he's running for the state House seat from District 47, currently held by Rep. Kevin Ambler.

The Tampa Tribune reported two weeks ago that Blair would be seeking to restart his political career by running for the seat, which Ambler is leaving because of term limits.

But he could face stiff competition in a crowded primary. Several other prominent Republicans have said they're interested in running, and two Republicans have already filed — Richard Reidy, an aide to County Commissioner Ken Hagan, and Tom Aderhold, president of the Keystone Civic Association.

Blair said today he plans an announcement Monday.

Blair served four years as a county commissioner before losing in 2008 election to Kevin Beckner.

He is also a Pony League baseball coach, former professional wrestler and operator of a fitness club in the Gold's Gym network, which he said had 100 employees and a multi-million dollar budget.

He and his wife have two teen-age sons.

In a news release he said he fought for tax relief as a county commissioner and would do the same in the Legislature. He was also known on the county commission as the leader of an attempt to abolish the wetlands regulation and protection function of the county Environmental Protection Agency. Environmentalists decried the move but builders and the development industry strongly favored it.

Blair incurred a spate of negative publicity recently when police were called to his home and he was arrested on child abuse charges as result of a domestic argument between him and his sons that turned violent. The charges were dropped, and Blair said he was exonerated, after the state attorney announced the evidence didn't warrant prosecution on the charges.

Reporter William March can be reached at (813) 259-7761.

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