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Candidates running unopposed pull in big buckets of bucks

By Times Staff
Published July 12, 2006

Apparently, you don't need opposition to be a fundraising champ.

Take Pinellas County Commissioner John Morroni. Though running unopposed for his District 6 seat, the Republican raised $19,585 in the second quarter of 2006, bringing his total donations to $85,000. Among his contributors are developer Greg Sembler and former Clearwater Mayor Brian Aungst.

That's more than his fellow commission incumbents, Susan Latvala and Calvin Harris.

District 4's Latvala, a Republican, took in $24,870 in the quarter, bringing her total to $81,120.

Her opponent in the September primary, newcomer Ray Brooks, brought in $1,080, bringing his total to $1,320.

The Democrat in the race, University of Central Florida student Richard Skandera, reported no fundraising activity.

In District 2, Democratic incumbent Harris raised $8,029 in the quarter. He now has $60,014 to fend off a primary challenge from Norm Roche, who reported $2,758 in donations for the second quarter. Overall, Roche has raised $8,227.

They are among the candidates for county offices and the state Legislature who have filed campaign contribution reports for the second quarter of 2006, which stretches from April 1 to June 30.

As the Sept. 5 primary nears, reporting periods will get shorter. The next deadline for candidates to report contributions is Aug. 4.

In other area races:

SENATE DISTRICT 16

Democrat Charlie Justice had a strong quarter, having raised $75,392. But more than half that amount came from the state Democratic Party.

Minus expenditures, Justice has $73,000 on hand.

Despite the infusion of party cash, Justice lags behind Republican Kim Berfield, who raised $54,160 in the quarter and has a cash balance of $346,000.

Her primary opponent, Frank Farkas, raised $24,942 in the quarter and spent $23,000, leaving him with $203,000 in the bank.

HOUSE DISTRICT 45

State Rep. Tom Anderson, R-Dunedin, raised $8,200 in the second quarter, and now has $34,000 available.

Anderson does not face a primary challenge.

The Democrat in the race, Chris Hrabovsky, raised $619 in his first three months of campaigning.

HOUSE DISTRICT 48

Republican Ken Peluso's best fundraising quarter yet, $28,000, is largely thanks to the medical field.

It also puts him closer to matching the sizeable war chest built by Tarpon Springs City Commissioner PETER NEHR.

Peluso, a Palm Harbor chiropractor and fire commissioner, collected at least $13,700 from the medical field from across Florida during the quarter.

Peluso has now raised $108,000 and has about $76,000 still to spend.

Nehr, meanwhile, collected $23,960 and has about $80,000 cash on hand.

Two other Republicans in the race reported minimal fundraising. Brian Flaherty took in about $3,500 and has about $50,000 available. Former Safety Harbor city Commissioner Robin Borland raised about $2,000 and has about $15,000 in the bank.

The Democrat in the race, Carl Zimmermann, raised $3,875 and has $7,000 to spend.

HOUSE DISTRICT 50

Republican real estate agent Nancy Riley raised $17,380 more through June 30, enlarging a slim fundraising lead over her opponent, former Clearwater city Commissioner Ed Hooper.

Riley has now raised $100,000 and has about $75,000 cash on hand.

Hooper raised $8,500 in the last three months, spent $11,400 in the same time, and has $51,000 available.

The lone Democrat in the race, Candi Jovan, raised $3,800 in her first quarter campaigning.

HOUSE DISTRICT 51

Leading the group is Republican Dottie Reeder, who took in $5,275 and spent $2,020. That leaves her with about $26,280 in the bank.

Her primary opponent, Bruce Cotton, took in $10,450. His campaign chest stands at $14,905.

Democrat Janet Long remains competitive. She took in $8,610 during the quarter and spent $1,717. Long has $26,180 in the bank.

HOUSE DISTRICT 52

With a blistering fundraising run, some $42,610 since joining the race on June 2, Bill Heller is the bullet in this race.

His Democratic primary opponent, Liz McCallum, raised $11,200 in the quarter. She spent $3,679 and has just $9,793 in her war chest.

"My campaign is off to a strong start," Heller said. "While the total dollar figure is great news, what's even more significant is that almost all of these funds came from individuals in our community, confirming broad local support for my candidacy."

The Republican front-runner, bank trust officer Angelo Cappelli, brought in $23,035 in the quarter. He has raised $106,003. He has a cash balance of $83,716.

Primary opponent Sandie Curran brought in less than $1,000 in the quarter. She has $4,340 to spend.

Ross Johnson, another Republican in the race, did better, taking in $7,876 in the quarter. Johnson spent $2,892 and has a balance of $16,200.

HOUSE DISTRICT 53

St. Petersburg City Council member Rick Kriseman, a Democrat, is running to take Justice's House seat.

He enjoys a huge fundraising lead.

Kriseman took in $25,505 during the quarter and has a balance of $58,077.

Primary opponent Charlie Gerdes, a politically savvy commercial litigator, had a weak quarter, bringing in just $4,075. And he spent nearly twice what he raised. Gerdes has a campaign chest of $8,820.

"Fundraising efforts took a back seat to our goal of making the ballot by petition" during the last quarter, Gerdes said. "Our monetary resources have been adequate to conduct a personal contact campaign to date, and we are very confident that we will have more than enough money to continue to run an effective campaign."

Thomas Picollo, a recent University of South Florida St. Petersburg graduate, is the race's only Republican. He took in $11,716 in his first quarter of fundraising.

HOUSE DISTRICT 54

Rod Jones leads the three Republicans in this race's money contest. He had a big quarter, $44,377 in donations, and spent only $5,290. Jones has $119,982 in the bank.

Behind him is primary opponent Jim Frishe, who has a balance of $21,410. He raised $6,290 in the quarter.

The race's lone Democrat, Betsy Valentine, has $4,640 to spend. She raised $5,681 in the quarter.

Staff writers Adam C. Smith, Aaron Sharockman and Will Van Sant contributed to this week's Junkie. For more political buzz, go to www.sptimes.com/blogs/buzz. Will Van Sant can be reached at vansant@sptimes.com.

[Last modified July 12, 2006, 06:46:20]