Signs to Say Negron Will Get Foley Votes

Joe Negron, R-Stuart, fields questions at a new conference in Orlando, Fla. Monday, Oct 2, 2006, as from left, wife Rebecca, son Jon, and daughter Becca look on. Negron was selected by the Florida Republican Party to run for the congressional seat vacated by Mark Foley. (AP Photo/Peter Cosgrove) (Peter Cosgrove - AP)

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Supervisors of elections in former Rep. Mark Foley's district may post signs telling voters that Joe Negron is the Republican candidate even though it will be Foley's name on the ballot, Florida elections officials said Thursday.

An e-mail from the State Division of Elections to election supervisors in counties that are part of Foley's district said that "preferably, the notice would be placed in every voting booth" and in absentee ballot mailings. The suggestion angered some Democrats who said it gives Negron unfair help.

Counties do not need to post such notices, but the agency sent out its recommendations after being asked by local elections officials, spokeswoman Jenny Nash said.

Foley had been heavily favored to beat Democrat Tim Mahoney in November before a scandal involving inappropriate messages to young pages led to his high-profile resignation. Republican leaders picked Negron, a state legislator, to replace him, but it was too late to put his name on the ballot.

State Democratic Party Chairwoman Karen Thurman sent a letter to state officials noting that state laws prohibit signs from being posted at polling places.

Nash said that the clarifying notices were meant to help voters, not any particular candidate, and that such notices have been used in past elections when a candidate has been replaced after ballots have already been printed.

Gov. Jeb Bush said the move would help alleviate confusion.

"Joe Negron is, by law, the candidate," Bush said. "You can't have his name on the ballot because of state law but to inform people is more than fair. ... To provide information is more than appropriate."