Loranne Ausley strikes back, posts banner cash month in HD 9 race

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Republican Jim Messer shocked onlookers when he posted $52,000 in contributions last month in the House District 9 race, but former Democratic Rep. Loranne Ausley struck back in October with a banner month of her own.

Ausley’s $47,000 haul was her second best since filing for the seat in May, and gives her a comfortable $93,000 lead over Messer, who followed up his September performance with $12,350 in October.

Most of Ausley’s contributions came from individuals chipping in $250 or less, though she did bring in four $1,000 checks, including a pair from health care committees Chiropac and Florida Health Care PAC. Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Allison Tant, who curiously listed her occupation as a homemaker, also showed up in the October report with a $500 contribution.

October campaign expenses totaled $7,115, with the bulk of that money paying for food and drinks at an Edison Restaurant fundraiser in Tallahassee. The Ausley camp also spent $1,169 on T-shirts from Tallahassee screen printer Full Press Apparel.

Messer’s total included a half dozen $1,000 checks, including one from Datamaxx Executive Vice President Stephani Miller and a pair from Tallahassee lawyers Belinda France and Michael Maida. Expenses registered at $2,920, including a $1,938 payment to Southern Campaign Resources for a direct mail campaign and $661 to Last Call for drinks at a campaign event.

Heading into November, Messer had $61,000 on-hand compared with Ausley’s $154,000 total. Democrat Arnitta Grice-Walker, the third candidate in the race, raised $557 last month, which leaves her campaign $530 in the red.

Drew Wilson

Drew Wilson covers legislative campaigns and fundraising for Florida Politics. He is a former editor at The Independent Florida Alligator and business correspondent at The Hollywood Reporter. Wilson, a University of Florida alumnus, covered the state economy and Legislature for LobbyTools and The Florida Current prior to joining Florida Politics.



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