A.G. Gancarski
We had a story this week about Donnie Horner continuing to lap the HD 11 field in fundraising, with a lot of that money coming from Jacksonville power brokers.
Michael Munz and Peter Rummell in August. Ben Frisch, Chartrand, WW Gay, and the Fiorentino Group in July.
Well, after that ran, local Republicans raised concerns.
They brought up Horner’s recent party switch.
“The Duval County Democratic Executive Committee is meeting tonite at 6pm at the IBEW. I’ll be there,” he tweeted four years ago.
As well, Sunshine State News observed other statements that might matter to the GOP faithful.
But Horner may have a tough time convincing Republican voters he’s a conservative. According to the Duval County supervisor of elections, Horner was a registered Democrat until April. In recent years his Twitter account has praised Democrats and slammed Republicans.
His twitter comments include calling for a “more prominent Democrat” to challenge U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw, R-Fla., in 2010 and indicating he could be up for the job; voting for U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., in 2012; backing U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown, D-Fla., and U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, D-Fla., in the 2010 Senate race; and claiming Republican Marco Rubio should not be elected in 2010.
With this in mind, there are those who hope Sheri Treadwell can emerge from the pack.
Treadwell has the seal of approval of her former boss at the Supervisor of Elections office, Jerry Holland, who posted on Facebook: “She has my support, a true Republican.”
Others are taking notice also.
Treadwell is the only candidate who is close to Horner in terms of aggregate fundraising.
July’s $3,055 tally puts Treadwell at $35,210.
Notable contributions include a $50 donation from The Florida Times-Union attorney, George Gabel, and $500 from the Fiorentino Group.
The thing to watch with Treadwell’s fundraising going forward will be how many other Jax power brokers follow the Fiorentino lead and put money into both campaigns.
Horner obviously has made an impression on the Republican money men.
But the grassroots hasn’t been sold.
Treadwell has been a GOP stalwart, and has run most of her campaign while pregnant.
Her daughter has been born now, and perhaps the race is on in earnest.
