Phil Ammann
As early voting ends in the Northeast Florida special legislative election for House District 17, candidate Cyndi Stevenson added to her fundraising advantage, according to the state Division of Elections website. Stevenson, a St. Johns County Republican, is seeking to replace Republican Rep. Ronald “Doc” Renuart from Ponte Vedra Beach. The special election is Tuesday.
From March 1 through this week, Stevenson added $58,673 for an overall total of $169,596, spending $149,495. She faces Judy Stevens, a no-party candidate, and write-in Mary Anne Boczek.
The state called a special election after Renuart chose to run the Senate District 6 seat held by former Sen. John Thrasher, a St. Augustine Republican. Thrasher vacated the seat last year to become president of Florida State University.
Campaign-finance information for Stevens and Boczek is still pending as of Friday, although through Feb. 28, Stevens raised $1,000; Boczek raised no money.
On Tuesday, voters will also choose the replacement for Thrasher in Senate District 6, as well as the successor for Republican Rep. Travis Hutson of Elkton in House District 24. Hutson won the Republican primary for Senate District 6 in January. To run for the Senate, both Hutson and Renuart resigned from the House.
