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Political junkie

Murman rakes in donations in bid for state Senate seat

By Times staff writers
Published October 22, 2005

In Tallahassee, Sen. Tom Lee made headlines scorning the influence of special interests in state politics.

Now big money could sway the election for his successor.

A year before voters cast the first ballots, state and national interest groups are pouring money into the campaign of GOP contende r Sandy Murman, a former state representative.

Murman has banked more than $251,000, according to campaign finance reports filed for the most recent quarter. Her campaign account dwarfs those of Republican rivals: former Hillsborough schools chie f Earl Lennard just got into the race, and Plant City businessman Ray Young is largely self-financing his campaign.

"The ugly part of this business is having to raise money to get elected, to get your word out," Murman said. "People are giving to me because they think I'm a very good legislator. They would like to see me come back to the Legislature."

Born and raised in east Hillsborough, Lennard is well known in the region. But his first weeks of fundraising barely made a dent against Murman's war chest. Lennard raised $10,675 in the two weeks beginning in mid-September. He plans his first fundraisers for the coming months. But he's not setting a goal to match Murman dollar for dollar.

"We'll get back to the old-timey politics of having fish fries and things that people can bring their children to," Lennard said. "That's what I think is important, and I think is sometimes missing in our political world today. We have to get back to the people."

Young lent his campaign $75,000 in late September. The personal contribution raised the total in his campaign coffers to nearly $109,000.

"We're investing in ourselves to show our commitment to the campaign," said Young, an air-conditioning salesman. "We're making a statement that we're in the race."

The winner of the Republican primary will face Democrat Stephen Gorham in the general election. Gorham has written himself checks for about $5,000 of the $7,700 in his campaign coffers.

COUNTY COMMISSION - DISTRICT 1: Tampa City Council member Rose Ferlita made an impressive showing in her bid to move from the city to the District 1 commission seat now held by Kathy Castor. She pulled in $85,305 in her first quarter of campaigning. Republican rival Brad Swanson, who formerly worked public relations for the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce, netted $23,000, not bad for a first-time candidate. Gary Santti, the only other Republican in the race, has raised just $100 in two quarters.

The only Democrat in the Democrat-leaning district, Deborah Cope, has raised just $1,770 over two quarters.

DISTRICT 3: The two-man contest pits Tampa City Council member Kevin White on the Democrats' side and insurance agent Ken Anthony for the Republicans. White raised $17,045 for the period, taking his total over three periods to $75,175. Anthony took in $12,935 to raise his total over two periods to $19,935 in the heavily Democratic central and east Tampa district.

DISTRICT 5, AT-LARGE: Incumbent Republican Jim Norman isn't taking anything for granted in his bid for a second term as an at-large commissioner (Norman did three terms as a District 2 commissioner as well). He has raised $127,550 in his first quarter and more than a year out. So far he faces token opposition from Brandon hypnotherapist and sadomasochism instructor Jean Batronie, who is running without party affiliation and has raised no money.

One interesting note here. Norman picked up a check from east county businessman and Republican activist Sam Rashid, in what appears to be a fence-mending gesture. Rashid backed Norman's opponent three years ago, former Commissioner Stacey Easterling, in a bitter campaign.

Rashid gave only $500, while he normally channels several checks in like amounts through company and family affiliations, so it's not clear that his heart is with Norman just yet.

DISTRICT 7, AT-LARGE: Incumbent Republican Mark Sharpe filed to run a week after the quarterly reporting period in a bid for re-election after what will be a stunted two-year tenure. So more on him later.

Times staff writers Letitia Stein and Bill Varian contributed to this report, which includes information that has appeared in other Times editions.

[Last modified October 22, 2005, 01:13:18]