Rep. Holder a true shoo-in

SARASOTA — The sole opposing candidate against Florida State Rep. Doug Holder, R-Sarasota, who is running for election in newly created District 74, has withdrawn from the race.

North Port area businessman Andrew Saltman, registered as a Democrat, officially withdrew his candidacy last week. But the ballots for the election have already been printed, Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Kathy Dent told the Business Review today, and Saltman's name will be on it. So a vote for Saltman, says Dent, won't count.

There are no other candidates in the race, though Holder can't officially win or be certified a winner until after the election. “He will not win until Nov. 6,” says Dent. “But essentially, if he votes for himself, he will win.”