Accusations Fly in Congressional Race; GOP Candidates Stearns, Oelrich Exchange Federal Complaints

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Byline: Matt Dixon

TALLAHASSEE | A dueling set of complaints over campaign advertisements has become the latest strike in a heated battle between congressional candidates Cliff Stearns and Steve Oelrich.

The two are part of a four-way Republican primary race for the newly drawn 3rd Congressional District, which runs from Clay County to the Gulf of Mexico.

Stearns, running for a 13th term in Congress, hit first, filing complaints on July 2 with both the federal government and state ethics officials. In response, Oelrich, a state senator from Cross Creek, filed his own set of federal complaints Thursday.

Stearns' federal complaints say Oelrich did …