A.G. Gancarski
The HD 14 campaign of Jacksonville Democrat Leslie Jean-Bart may have finally hit its fundraising stride in March, as the trial lawyer had her best month yet. Meanwhile, Reverend Kim Daniels, a former Jacksonville City Councilwoman, showed strength in her first month of serious fundraising.
$19,650 of new money in March brought Jean-Bart’s total up to $58,511, leaving her around $36,000 cash on hand.
Jean-Bart, who was backed by Corrine Brown when she launched her campaign last summer, seems to have been quietly abandoned by the veteran Congresswoman. When Brown was most recently in Tallahassee for her redistricting trial and buffet restaurant presser, it was Daniels, not Jean-Bart, who was by the Congresswoman’s side, and leading the assembled in a pre-presser prayer.
There doesn’t seem to be complete overlap between Jean-Bart’s March donors and Corrine’s coterie, however.
The majority of Jean-Bart’s donations in March came from the legal community, with money from the Pajcic family and other Jacksonville Democratic stalwarts coming in strong. Her grassroots contributions, meanwhile, stemmed from a low-dollar Young Professionals fundraiser, in which Dems like Kristellys Estanga, Jenny Busby, and Jimmy Midyette ponied up.
Daniels’ fundraising reports for her first two months in the race only had a $100 loan, meanwhile. But March saw Daniels flex her muscles, raising $16,900 via an interesting cast of contributors, including Councilman Reggie Brown (an ally of Daniels’ when she was on Council).
Brown maxed out for Daniels with two $500 donations, augmented by donations from his son and many members of the Brown family, here in Jacksonville and beyond.
Congresswoman Corrine Brown, despite raising money to address her own legal troubles, donated $500 to Daniels.
Daniels also scored max donations from a business colleague of hers on the evangelism circuit, Brian Carn, along with his wife.
The other HD 14 Democrats lag behind in terms of fundraising. Former State Representative Terry Fields raised just $2,650 in March, pushing him barely over $26,000 raised… and leaving him with around $23,000 on hand. Gracie McCastler, meanwhile, has yet to raise money.
The sole HD 14 Republican running, Chris Whitfield, raised $200 in March, bringing him to a grand total of $1,105 raised thus far.
