Bill Rufty
Two of the heaviest-monied Republican candidates for Florida Commissioner of Agriculture are heading for a busy week.
Former state Rep. Baxter Troutman of Winter Haven plans to be in the Panhandle for the next two weeks beginning Monday with a visit to Fort Walton Beach.
State Sen. Denise Grimsley of Sebring also starts the week with an address to the Indian River Republican Women’s Club in Vero Beach. Planning a cross-state campaign week, she will be at a Tuesday night fundraiser at the Lake City Holiday Inn.
At 11:30 a.m. Wednesday (Central time) Grimsley will address the Walton County Republican Women’s Club luncheon in Sandestin. She plans to finish the week at Lakewood Ranch Friday, with an address to that community’s Republican Club luncheon.
Thursday, Troutman has a meet-and-greet scheduled at the Golf Club of Quincy.
Friday at 9 a.m., he will be at the W.T. Neal Civic Center in Blountstown.
According to state campaign finance reports, Troutman took in a little over $3 million through April 30, most of it self-funded ($2.8 million). Grimsley’s reports showed her with $1.9 million raised and $1 million banked through April.
Also running in the Republican Primary is Lehigh Acres Rep. Matt Caldwell, who leads the field in fundraising when Troutman’s self-funding is thrown out. He hasn’t announced his campaign stops for the week, though his campaign travel — or “2LaneTravels,” as he calls it — is nearing the 65,000-mile mark since he filed for the race.
