Yesterday was the official deadline for all Florida candidates to release their financial reports through March 31.
Locally, lots of folks were looking forward to seeing how Hillsborough County Commissioner Kevin White would fare in the 1st quarter of 2010. The answer? Not very good, though he still holds a formidable financial lead over his opponents in the August 24th Democratic Primary, Les Miller and Valerie Goddard, overall.
White, who faced a barrage of negative media coverage after he was found guilty in a sexual harassment suit against a former aide last August and later sued by his fellow commissioners, raised $11,385. That's virtually the same as Miller, who raised $11, 270. Goddard raised $8,869.
In state races, the Republican race in House District 47, being vacated by Kevin Ambler this year, is among the most interesting. Rich Reidy has the most cash on hand with $53,623. Irene Guy has $41,029. Jamie Grant (chosen the winner in last night's debate amongst the candidates) has $30,912. Brian Blair? Only,$5,631 at the moment (Democrat Michael Steinberg leads the way with $53,874, though much of that has been his own money).
And in the House District 57 race, where Republican Faye Culp will be exiting due to term limits this year, Dana Young is the front-runner, financially at the end of the first quarter, with $147,281 at the moment, which is almost twice as much as Democrat Stacy Frank has raised($76,808) running unopposed in the Democratic primary. Todd Marks has raised $24,465 and Dan Malloy $21,483.
In the House District 60 race, where Republican Ed Homan is leaving (and apologies for failing to indicate in our post on Friday that he joined Faye Culp as a Republican voting against HB7189, the House version of SB 6), former Tampa City Councilman Sean Harrison is doing well so far raising cash, with over $80,000 on hand at the moment. Democrat Russ Paterson has raised a little less than half that ($39. 067).
And in Pinellas House District 52 race, Democratic incumbent Bill Heller is barely outraising his GOP opponent, Connie Deneault. Deneault is a retired insurance agent from St. Petersburg, who is getting lots of support from the Republican Party of Florida, who obviously feel that they have a chance of taking the seat in November.
