Lunsford Ponders Book Deal, Politics

By JIM TUNSTALL The Tampa Tribune

Published: Mar 30, 2007

HOMOSASSA SPRINGS - Mark Lunsford could be headed to the best-seller list, the widescreen and the state House of Representatives.

The William Morris Agency will represent Lunsford - whose daughter Jessica was raped and buried alive in 2005 - on a possible book and movie deal, the agency's New York office confirmed Thursday.

The story would not focus on the crime but would explore its effect on the Lunsford family.

Early on, Mark and his parents, Ruth and Archie, had to deal with the 9-year-old's disappearance as well as the effects of being considered possible suspects. They also faced three weeks of uncertainty before her body was found 150 yards from their home.

More recently, Mark Lunsford has been approached about a possible run for the Legislature, said his lawyer, Mark Gelman of Jacksonville.

Lunsford's decision could come in a couple of weeks and depends on a domino effect. The scenario:

State Sen. Nancy Argenziano, R-Crystal River, is a finalist for a seat on the Public Service Commission. If she is appointed, state Rep. Charlie Dean, an Inverness Republican and a former Citrus County sheriff, might resign to run for her seat.

Lunsford, a former truck driver turned children's advocate, then might opt to seek Dean's seat.

"Next week I'll know for sure," he said. "It's a big responsibility."

Neither Argenziano nor Dean returned phone calls seeking comment.

Lunsford is a registered Democrat, though he could switch parties.

"He has powerful name recognition," Gelman said.

"Tallahassee needs a guy like Mark," he said. "Tallahassee has enough doctors and lawyers. It needs a truck driver."

Citrus County GOP secretary Richard Windle agreed.

"An awful lot of people are tired of professional politicians, and he sure has an ability to connect with the common man," Windle said.

"He doesn't have any political background, but that could be a plus."

Name recognition is all Lunsford has going, said Edward Murphy, secretary of the Citrus Democratic Party.

"I see no reason he would qualify for public office," he said, stressing that was his opinion, not the party's position.

"All it would seem he would get is the sympathy vote."

In Inverness today, Jessica's killer, 48-year-old John Evander Couey, is due in court, where his lawyers will argue for a new trial. They say errors were made when he was convicted this month in Miami of first-degree murder, kidnapping, sexual battery on a child under 12 and burglary with battery. They also say he didn't get a fair trial.

A jury recommended death on the murder charge.

A sentencing date hasn't been set.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report. Reporter Jim Tunstall can be reached at jtunstall @tampatrib.com or (352) 628-5558.