State: Fundraising disparity hinders Sebesta foe

McInnis-Gimbert's package to qualify for the race against incumbent Jim Sebesta went down in a FedEx crash the day of the deadline. She raced to Tallahassee, but got to the Capitol two minutes too late to file new papers. Then Gov. Jeb Bush extended the deadline for candidates in her situation, and the 30-year-old Democrat got on the ballot.

Since then, however, the newcomer has been putting on a low-budget challenge to Sebesta, a St. Petersburg Republican. Her campaign signs dot major highways, but she has raised only $8,700, compared with Sebesta's $181,700.

She said she wished she had raised more money. "But considering I've had 12 weeks to raise what I've raised, that's pretty darn good," said McInnis-Gimbert, a self-employed paralegal and political science student at the University of South Florida.

Senate District 16 bridges Tampa Bay by taking in part of south Tampa and western Hillsborough County as well as northern St. Petersburg and part of east Pinellas County.

On at least a few key issues, the candidates don't differ significantly.

Both say low retention rates and other problems at the Florida Department of Children and Families must be addressed. They also support giving teachers a $4,500 raise to bring their salaries in line with the national average.

If re-elected, Sebesta, chairman of the Senate's Transportation Committee, plans to make sure roads in the bay area receive proper funding. McInnis-Gimbert said transportation is important, but not as important as educating children, protecting missing and dying children and taking care of the elderly.

Sebesta, 67, said he isn't treating this race any differently from previous runs for office. Still, he said, the disparity in fundraising is an indication of how the race is progressing.

"It's difficult not to toot my horn," he said. "When I look at that, it shows an overwhelming support for my campaign."

McInnis-Gimbert disagreed.

"It would be silly to say money doesn't matter in a campaign. It does," she said. "By the same token, it also would be silly to say since he has more money in his war chest that he will beat me."

Political analysts say that without serious monetary backing and name recognition, McInnis-Gimbert will not oust Sebesta.

"People don't part with their money unless they think a candidate has a serious chance at winning," said Darryl Paulson, a professor of government at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg.

"In this case, I certainly haven't seen any kind of substantial organization to oppose Sebesta's campaign. I'd certainly be amazed if it's a close race," he said.

Hillsborough County Democratic executive committee chairman Henry Gill says he thinks one thing may work in McInnis-Gimbert's favor. If Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill McBride fares well, that's likely to translate into good totals for other Democrats, he said.

"I think all of the Democrats are going to have an advantage if people think about education, because I think the Bush program is a failed program," he said.

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Lucy Morgan

From the Times state desk