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Candidates List Latest Fundraising Totals

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By Carl  Orth | The Suncoast News

Published: August 2, 2008

An-nnn-d they're off!

The horse race also known as the Aug. 26 primary is in full stride, with the latest contribution totals raised by candidates as a rough way to handicap the races.

Sheriff Bob White lays claim to the title of biggest fundraiser by far, with $156,851 in cash and about $12,875 of "in-kind" contributions. White, the two-term Republican incumbent, has spent more than about $41,244 so far.

White has spent more money than Republican challenger Robert J. Sullivan has raised. Sullivan has reaped $23,848.16 in monetary contributions and another $2,475 in-kind items. Sullivan has spent about $21,878 so far.

Among Democratic candidates for sheriff, Kim Bogart is far out in front with $64,307.31 in cash and $7,590.99 in in-kind donations.

The other Democrat in the sheriff's race, Jeff Deremer, trails with $8,780 cash and $358.01 in-kind.

Nonpartisan sheriff candidate Bobby Kinzy lists $6,535 in cash contributions.

The fundraising power of incumbency is demonstrated in County Commission races as well.

District 5 Republican incumbent Jack Mariano has raised nearly twice as much in cash contributions as GOP rival Rich Jenkins - $41,205 to $21,134.

Ann Hildebrand, the six-term Republican incumbent in District 3, has outraised both GOP rivals combined by a nearly 6-to-1 margin. Hildebrand has $86,205 cash on hand so far while rivals Wil Nickerson and Matt Matey have $14,452 cash between them.

In the Commission District 1 race, incumbent Republican Ted Schrader has received $101,955.31 in monetary contributions. His Republican rival, John Nicolette, however, has been able to raise $89,408 in cash.

Money doesn't always guarantee success in campaigns. Look at the memorable slugfest in the 2004 primary for Pasco superintendent of schools. Chuck Rushe, then the School District's chief financial officer, outspent Heather Fiorentino, a teacher turned state legislator, in that bitter Republican primary battle.

Rushe, who died soon after the 2004 election, raised a record $132,214 to Fiorentino's $92,280. But Fiorentino, perhaps on the basis of higher name recognition, prevailed and it was all over but the shouting after the primary. Fiorentino trounced a last-minute Democratic opponent in the 2004 general election.

The superintendent's race this time around is a lot tamer so far. In fact, voters will skip this contest in the primary. Republican incumbent Fiorentino and Democratic challenger Stephen Donaldson have no opponents, so they automatically advance to the general election.

Fiorentino, seeking a second term, and Donaldson seem to be pacing themselves for the long haul of the general election.

Fiorentino has amassed a war chest of $26,190.50, all but $410.50 of it in cash.

At first glance, Donaldson seems to be ahead in the contribution sweepstakes with a grand total of $28,613.52. Much more of his war chest, however, comes from "in-kind contributions" worth $5,161.52. These include items such as postage and office supplies. His monetary contribution total comes to $23,452.

Also, Donaldson already has spent more than $8,100 of his campaign funds, while Fiorentino has opened up the purse strings only to the tune of more than $2,600.

Carl Orth can be reached at 727-815-1068 or corth@suncoastnews.com.

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