Lawton "Bud" Chiles' seven-year itch

With only about 90 days until the Aug. 24 primary, Lawton “Bud” Chiles, III, 57, looks like he's going to take on Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink for the Democratic nomination for governor.

An official announcement is expected this week.

Chiles, born and raised in Florida, now lives in Tallahassee where he's involved in education and children's issues. He is the son of former Gov. Lawton Chiles, and brother to Anna Maria island restaurateur Ed Chiles.

Bud Chiles lived in New York and New Jersey for a time and moved back to Florida in 2003. In 2006, he aborted a run for governor when he discovered a provision of the state constitution dating to the 19th century requiring candidates to reside in the state for the previous seven years. He's been assured this time he now meets the residency requirement.