Florida's 8th congressional district election, 2006

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Florida's 8th congressional district- Incumbent Ric Keller (R) is known in Congress for his Cheeseburger Bill that passed without his vote because of his hospitalization for a cardiac arrhythmia in 2005. Keller has been reelected with little trouble in the past. This year he faced a respectable opponent in marketing consultant Charlie Stuart, a Orange County, Florida native and member of a prominent Orlando family who was touted by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee as a top longshot candidate. Stuart received the backing of local figures such as Congressman Allen Boyd, ex-Orlando mayors Glenda Hood and Bill Frederick and present Orlando mayor Buddy Dyer, as well as national ones such as former Virginia Governor Mark Warner. Results: Keller defeated Stuart 53% to 46%.

[edit] Charlie Stuart

Charlie Stuart (born November 5, 1951) was the Democratic nominee. Stuart graduated from the University of Florida in 1973 with a B.S. in Business Administration (Marketing). Stuart worked as President of several companies during the 1970s and 1980s, including George Stuart, Inc. and Eagle Office Supply, Inc. He has since worked as a consultant, speaker, author, and adjunct professor at the Hamilton Holt School of Rollins College. Stuart has been involved in the community as a Bible study teacher at a Baptist church, President of the YMCA, Little league umpire, board member of the United Way of Central Florida and the Orlando Regional Healthcare Foundation Board of Directors, and President of the Central Florida Crime Commission. Stuart has been married to his wife, Barbara, for 32 years. The couple have three children, and a dog named Jackson. He is but one member in a very well-connected local political family that includes brothers Jacob Stuart, president of the Orlando Chamber of Commerce; Robert Franklin Stuart, Orlando City Commissioner representing the College Park area; and former state senator George Stuart, Jr.