TALLAHASSEE -- Katherine Harris shouldn't be allowed to remain on the ballot for Congress because she fouled up her resignation process and signed an improper oath, her Republican primary opponent argued Thursday.

John C. Hill, a former television anchor who lives in Sarasota, is trying to convince Circuit Judge P. Kevin Davey that because Harris filed to run for Congress and signed an oath saying she had resigned from her old office when she really hadn't, she should be kept off the 13th Congressional District ballot.

Harris abruptly quit as secretary of state this month after realizing she had failed to file a letter stating her intent to resign. Candidates who don't file such a letter by the time they qualify are deemed to have automatically resigned on the qualifying date under state law.

Harris' lawyers told Davey her actions were the result of an oversight and argued that when Harris signed the oath, she was considered resigned under the law.

If Harris is disqualified, Hill will become the Republican nominee as the only other candidate.

Davey indicated he would issue a ruling Friday.

Elsewhere . . .

INFANT DIES IN CAR: A 5-month-old boy was found dead after being left inside a vehicle in a parking lot Thursday. Miami-Dade police called to the lot found Phillip Gotman's body, in the rear of a minivan. They were looking for his mother and trying to determine who was supposed to be caring for the child. On Wednesday, a 2-year-old Naples girl died when her mother forgot to take her to day care on the way to work and left her in a car more than nine hours.

CHANCELLORS NAMED: The Florida Board of Education chose two men Thursday to lead the community college and public university systems. David Armstrong will be chancellor of the Community College System. He had been interim chancellor. Daniel S. Papp, who was the senior vice chancellor for academics and fiscal affairs for Georgia universities, will lead the Division of Colleges and Universities. Both were nominated by a selection committee.

SNAKES ATTACK BOY: A 7-year-old boy was listed in serious condition Thursday at Wolfson Children's Hospital in Jacksonville after being bitten at least five times by at least two rattlesnakes. Matt Carrera apparently stumbled on a nest of snakes in the woods near his home on Anastasia Island outside St. Augustine.

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Lucy Morgan

From the Times state desk