Winning is worth more than $20,000 to some contenders. Builders and unions pitched in, too, fundraising reports show.
By WILL VAN SANT
Published August 29, 2004
It's a truism in politics, from the local to national level: People and groups give money to candidates out of admiration and support, but they also hope to get support in return.
Midnight Thursday was the deadline for candidates to accept contributions in advance of Tuesday's primary election. After Tuesday, candidates still in the race may start collecting cash again as they battle toward Nov. 2.
Some local candidates have raised tens of thousands of dollars; others rather meager amounts. Still others have refused outside contributions and funded campaigns with their own money.
What follows is a breakdown of some of the fundraising activity documented in filings made to the Hernando County Supervisor of Elections Office by Friday's deadline. Some reports were not immediately available. Candidates had the option of mailing their reports, so long as they were postmarked by Friday.
County Commission District 1
In the Republican primary - the only race in the district because Democrat D.W. "Bill" Fagan is unopposed - Donald Whiting is the fundraising champ, according to filings.
Whiting, owner of a Spring Hill insurance company, has taken in nearly $42,000. Much of that money came from the candidate himself. But more than any contender in any commission race, Whiting has benefited from local construction industry support.
EPAC Builders, Pastore Custom Builders, Kundrat Builders, Creative Shelters and Designs, Royal Coachman Homes and Bluestone Construction are among the companies that made the maximum $500 contribution to Whiting. The Hernando Builders Association, which has endorsed Whiting in the primary, also donated $500.
Behind Whiting is Anthony Palmieri, who is not accepting outside contributions. The former vice president of Chase Manhattan Bank has given $30,000 of his own money to his campaign.
When it comes to small contributions from individuals, candidate and civic activist Rose Rocco takes the prize. Rocco, according to filings, has taken in $8,476. The vast bulk of the figure has come in the form of modest donations from people who live in Spring Hill.
Getting support from local labor by way of an endorsement from the West Central Florida AFL-CIO is candidate Jeff Stabins. The endorsement, which came with a $150 donation, applies also to the November election. All told, Stabins has brought in $5,280, including $500 from D.A.B. Constructors.
The remaining candidates in the race are Luke Frazier and Richard McDermott. Neither has raised large sums of money, according to available filings.
County Commission District 3
In the Republican primary, Art Dillman, owner of All Coast Technical Services and All Coast Engineering, is on top with $16,060 in contributions. Dillman contributed more than $13,500 of his own money to his campaign.
The Hernando Builders Association has endorsed Dillman and given him $500. Planning and Zoning Commission member Nick Nicholson, a business associate, has given Dillman $150.
The other two candidates in the Republican primary, Mark Cattell and Charles Gaskin, have considerably less cash in their campaign chests, according to filings.
On the Democratic side, sitting Commissioner Diane Rowden has taken in nearly $9,090 in contributions, most of it in small donations from individuals.
Her opponent in the District 3 primary, Phillip Johnson, has taken in $2,825, reports indicate. Johnson gave $1,000 to himself and received a $500 donation from developer Charles Sasser.
The Supervisor of Elections Office recently fined Johnson $650 for missing an earlier filing deadline. Such fines are based on a percentage of contributions or expenditures, whichever is greater, during a given reporting period. Johnson is appealing the fine to state election officials.
County Commission District 5
In the Republican primary - again the only race in the district because Democrat Chris Kingsley is unopposed - Janey Baldwin leads the pack.
She has taken in $22,680, with more than $20,000 having come out of Baldwin's own pocket.
Next up is Anna Liisa Covell with $10,392. Covell sits on the county Planning and Zoning Commission. Fellow board member Al Sevier donated $100 to her.
Most of the money Covell raised has come in the form of individual contributions from residents. Candidates Lara Bradburn, James Adkins and Bobbi Mills have all brought in between $8,000 and $10,000.
The Hernando Builders Association has endorsed Bradburn and donated $500 to her campaign. Planning and Zoning Commission member Sevier has also given $100 to Bradburn, who has received much of her financial backing from Brooksville residents with deep roots in the city.
Candidate Jimmy Batten has refused outside contributions and spent about $4,650 of his own money on his campaign.
A write-in candidate, Richard Power, was fined $135 for missing the same filing deadline as Johnson. Rather than appeal, Power paid the fine, county elections officials said.
Looking ahead to November, the West Central Florida AFL-CIO has endorsed Democrat Kingsley in the District 5 race. The group has cut him a check for $150.
School Board District 4
Incumbent School Board member Jim Malcolm has raised $3,430 and been endorsed by the Hernando Classroom Teachers Association, Communication Workers of America Local 3115 and the West Central Florida AFL-CIO. Among his contributors: School Board member Robert Wiggins, Planning and Zoning Commission member Nick Nicholson and Brooksville City Council member Joe Bernardini. His opponent, Danny Dunn, has raised little money and has no endorsements. The Deerfield Homeowners Association has contributed to his campaign.
School Board District 2
According to available filings, county Parks and Recreation Department director Pat Fagan is in the lead with $10,325. Marine Industry Council chairman John Saittis and developer Thomas Bronson, the McGee and Mason law firm and Coastal Engineering Associates are among those who have contributed to his campaign.
Behind Fagan is Stephen Galaydick with $3,916, according to the most recently available filings. The Hernando Builders Association has endorsed Galaydick.
Linda Prescott has taken in $3,274. She has the endorsements of the Hernando Classroom Teachers Association and the West Central Florida AFL-CIO. County Commissioner Diane Rowden is among those who have donated to Prescott.
County judge
Incumbent Judge Peyton Hyslop is in the lead with $30,428. Gary Grubbs of Grubbs Construction Co., Dr. Adel Eldin and lawyer John Vitola are among his recent contributors.
Assistant State Attorney Don Scaglione has raised $16,968, with recent contributions coming from accountant Patricia Cornett and Capital Publishing owners Tom and Ashely Adams. Scaglione has received endorsements from the Hernando 10-13 Retired New York Police Officers Association, Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 164, the AFL-CIO Central Labor Council West Central Florida Federation of Labor and from a number of local law enforcement officials.
5th Congressional District
Among those in the Democratic primary looking to unseat U.S. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite, Robert Whittel leads with $106,000 in contributions. The candidate has given $47,000 to himself. The Florida AFL-CIO has endorsed Whittel.
Behind him is Richard Penberthy, whose campaign is self-funded. Penberthy, who also has a Florida AFL-CIO endorsement, has dedicated more than $60,000 of his own money to his campaign.
Candidates Brian Moore and John Russell are well behind in the fundraising race.
Staff writers Jennifer Liberto and Jeffrey S. Solochek contributed to this report.
Complete campaign reports for local candidates can be found at www.hernandovotes.com click on candidates. To view congressional campaign reports, go to www.fec.gov (click on Citizen Guide).
