North Miami Mayor Kevin Burns to Run for Senate

In our very important four-point treatise on netroots campaigning, we predicted "gay candidates will be the hot new netroots cause, just watch," and now, right here in Florida, that theory will be put to the test. North Miami Mayor Kevin Burns will tomorrow officially kick off his campaign to seek the Senate seat being vacated by Mel Martinez.

And if Burns has any chance of winning, it's going to come from unbelievably strong netroots and grassroots support. In a Democratic field noted for zero candidates with strong statewide name recognition, Burns would be lucky to have strong county-wide name recognition. Especially considering two other Miami-Dade-based candidates, Kendrick Meek and Dan Gelber, are already seeking the Democratic nomination.

Back in November, Burns supported a handful of charter ammendments that would have strengthened the office of mayor and allowed him to seek another term. Those didn't pass, and he will be term-limited out of office in May. So apparently he has decided to run for Senate. But North Miami is smack-dab in the middle of congressional District 17, a seat Kendrick Meek will be vacating to also run for Senate. It's surprising he decided to seek the upper house and not the lower house.
Are there any other Miami-Dade pols thinking about getting into this race? Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio, currently the only big name being thrown around as a possible candidate who isn't from South Florida, would surely appreciate it if you did.

Quick question: Why does the Miami Herald headline read, "Ex-North Miami Mayor" when Burns is still very much mayor (a fact noted in the story)?