Peter Schorsch
Former state Rep. Mike Clelland‘s bid to return to Tallahassee is getting a high-octane start with a reported first quarter fundraising haul of $257,780 for his campaign in the Florida Senate District 13 race. This figure includes $26,090 raised during the month of March.
The cumulative total reflects $165,780 contributed to the campaign, and $92,000 to the political committee supporting the campaign, Common Sense for Central Florida.
“I continue to be overwhelmed by the positive support I’ve received from the voters of Central Florida,” said Clelland. “This generous support will allow me to serve as a voice for hard-working Floridians who deserve so much more from their elected representation in Tallahassee.”
Through redistricting the seat now held by term-limited Senate President Andy Gardiner, an Orlando Republican, has become very attractive to Democrats. It has drawn in much more of the largely-Democratic and heavily-Hispanic east Orange County neighborhoods.
Consequently, the race has attracted another Democratic former state representative, Linda Stewart, along with Democratic former Orange County School Board member Rick Roach. Others have been rumored to be considering entering the race too.
Clelland’s haul puts them all on notice.
The Republicans have a formidable candidate of their own in Realtor Dean Asher, who had raised $168,000 in his campaign, plus $199,000 in his political committee, Allegiant Friends For Florida, in 2015.
Clelland, a former firefighter who now is an attorney with Morgan & Morgan, shocked the political world in 2012 when he upset House Speaker-designee Chris Dorworth in the Seminole County-based House District 29. But two years later, former state Rep. Scott Plakonmade his comeback, knocking off Clelland in an election when Republicans swept back their 2012 losses in Central Florida.
Reporter Scott Powers contributed to this report.
