[Gene Randall, Cnn Anchor:] When most people run for office, their goal is getting elected. But from Florida, we have the story of a man doing everything he can to lose his race. Here is Mark Potter.
[Mark Potter, Cnn Correspondent:] A month and a half ago, Douglas Couvertier decided to run for town council in Southwest Ranches, a rural bedroom community near Ft. Lauderdale. He was actually doing quite well. "The Miami Herald" endorsed his candidacy. But suddenly, he changed his mind. [on camera]: What's your greatest fear?
[Douglas Couvertier, Reluctant Candidate:] To be elected. To win. At this point, if I win, I'm in trouble, so I've got to make sure I don't win.
[Potter:] Recently, he got bad news from his boss at the Miami-Dade fire department, where he works as a battalion chief. It turns out the county charter prohibits someone with his job from holding elective office.
[Couvertier:] If I'm elected to this office, I have to be terminated, and I can't afford that, because I'm three years away from retiring, and it'll affect my retirement.
[Potter:] Not wanting to lose his full pension, he asked the elections supervisor to remove him from the ballot. But it was too late.
[Couvertier:] I didn't want people to vote for me, because I'd lose my job, so the only alternative was I was to communicate the fact that, please, don't vote for me.
[Potter:] Couvertier quickly went to work, convincing the local newspapers to write stories about how he hoped to lose. He explained it by phone to radio reporters.
[Couvertier:] I am three years away from retiring. It would affect my retirement. So I couldn't do that.
[Potter:] Couvertier also contacted his neighbors, who at first thought he was kidding.
[Couvertier:] As soon as I talk about it a little, they realize I'm serious, and they go, oh my God, no, I won't vote for you, don't worry.
[Potter:] On election day, the now-reluctant candidate will come here to the polling place to greet voters. He will wear a tee-shirt that says "Please Don't Vote for Douglas Couvertier," and he means it. Mark Potter, CNN, near Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.