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Long-time Florida Democrat Willie Logan plans to kick off his independent campaign for the U.S. Senate the same way "Walkin" Lawton Chiles began his, by beginning a cross-state tour in Century.

Chiles began his 1970 campaign by walking from Century throughout Florida, and Logan plans a similar journey Monday in Century. However, Logan will make his journey on a motorcycle.

Logan will be at the roadside park from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to kick off his campaign with a free fish fry. From Century. the motorcycle tour will take him through 50 Florida cities and counties.

Sean Pittman appeared before the Century Town Council Monday night to announce the kickoff of Logan's run for the senate as an independent candidate.

"There's no better place to start than Century," Pittman said. "We want to do a real kickoff right here in Century."

Councilwoman Marie McMurray said she will join the motorcycle parade to help begin the campaign.

Pittman said Logan is running as an independent to give Washington back to the people.  He called the Republican and Democratic stronghold on national politics an "exclusive club" and it's "time for the people to take it back."

Logan graduated from high school in 1975 and received an associate of arts degree from Miami-Dade Community College in 1976. He also received a bachelor's degree in accounting
from the University of Miami.

His political career began in 1980 when he was elected mayor of Opa-locka, Fla., at the age of
23. At that time he was the youngest mayor in the United States.

In 1982 he was elected to the Florida House of Representatives as a Democrat and continues to hold that position. While in the House, Logan has chaired a number of committees, including the
Criminal Justice Budget Committee and the Committee on Finance and Taxation. He served as House Democratic Leader-elect in 1997 and chairman of the Miami-Dade County legislative delegation in 1998-99. He currently serves on the House Appropriations and Rules Committees.

Pittman said Logan plans to campaign the old fashion way by meeting people face to face during his tour -- from Century to Key West. The tour will end on July 4.

"We cannot allow our political worth to be determined by our net worth any longer," Logan said of his campaign. "Both major parties continue to sell off our government piece by piece to the highest bidder. If we don't put a stop to it by electing people who aren't beholden to the two
parties and their big corporate special interest friends, we will lose our government all together. Now is the time to come together and reclaim the power of our individual voices."