Jim Rosica
Florida Grown, the political fundraising committee that could fuel Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam‘s bid for governor in 2018, posted $765,000 in contributions for December, campaign finance records show.
Reports were due to the state’s Division of Elections on Monday.
December’s haul brings total funds raised to nearly $4 million, with total expenditures now at around $818,000, for a cash-on-hand balance of close to $3.2 million.
The big checks at the end of 2015 include $150,000 each from Florida Power & Light and The Voice of Florida Business, a political committee tied to Associated Industries of Florida.
Publix Supermarkets kicked in another $100,000, followed by the same amount from Duke Energy.
Florida Jobs PAC, affiliated with the Florida Chamber of Commerce, chipped in $90,000, and the Florida Phosphate Political Committee gave $50,000, according to reports.
December’s biggest single line-item expenditure was $50,000 in consulting fees to Silloh Consulting, the company held by Justin Hollis, who chairs Florida Grown.
Hollis’ company also was reimbursed another $34,000 for “travel and event food and beverage,” reports show.
Generally, political committees aren’t limited in the size of check they can accept, unlike candidates’ individual campaign accounts.
