Former state rep. wins $800K lottery ticket

ST. PETERSBURG — Former state Rep. Frank Farkas lost an election in 2012, but he won a consolation price of sorts recently — $815,000 in the Florida lottery.

The Florida Lottery announced Farkas' good fortune Tuesday, according to a report from the News Service of Florida. Farkas, 56, won a scratch-off ticket with a prize of $50,000 a year for life, part of the lottery's “Lucky $200,000 a Year for Life” game. He chose to take the winnings in a lump-sum payment of $815,515.72, the News Service reports.

Farkas, R-St. Petersburg, served in the Florida House from 1998 to 2006. A chiropractor, he ran again in 2012 but lost to Rep. Dwight Dudley, D-St. Petersburg.