Jenna Buzzacco-Foerster
The race for a Treasure Coast state Senate seat is heating up, with two Republican lawmakers raising tens of thousands of dollars in about three weeks.
Debbie Mayfield will face Ritch Workman in the Aug. 30 District 17 Republican primary.
State records show Workman raised $73,525, bringing his total fundraising haul to $376,065. In June, Workman received $1,000 contributions from the FRF Grocery Council Political Committee, the FRF Pharmacy Council Political Committee, and the FRF Pharmacy Council Political Committee.
The Melbourne Republican also received a $1,000 donation from “Growing Florida’s Future,” the political committee linked to House Speaker Steve Crisafulli.
Workman’s campaign spent $10,399 between June 1 and June 24. His campaign had more than $169,800 at the end of the fundraising period.
State records show Workman raised an additional $40,500 through his political committee, “Citizens United for Liberty and Freedom.” The committee received $5,000 donations from FTBA Transportation PAC, Mortgage Bankers of Florida Political Committee, RAI Services Company, Florida Blue, and Walmart Stores, Inc.
The committee spent $340,857 during the fundraising period. That sum included three contributions totaling $320,000 to the “Accomplished Conservative Leaders Fund,” an electioneering communications organization. Since March, “Citizens United for Liberty and Freedom” has been the sole contributor to the “Accomplished Conservative Leaders Fund.”
Records show “Citizen United for Liberty and Freedom” ended the fundraising period with more than $46,600 in the bank.
Mayfield raised $33,825 toward her campaign in June. State records show the campaign received $1,000 donations from Victory Casino Cruises, “Truth in Politics,” an Indialantic political committee, and the Apartment Political Action Committee.
Mayfield’s campaign spent $40,661 in June, including $11,668 for media placement. Her campaign has more than $160,500 cash on hand.
The Vero Beach Republican may benefit from a newly formed unaffiliated political committee called “Stop Career Politicians.” The committee, formed June 13, is not affiliated with a candidate; however, according to the group’s mission statement, it was created to “hold Ritch Workman accountable for his moral, ethical and legal transgressions.”
“Our mission is to ensure the voters of Senate District 17 know the truth about Ritch Workman’s tax-and-spend record; his blatant violations of election law; and his penchant for lying down with special interests at the expense of Florida taxpayers,” the group says on its website. “We will not rest until Ritch Workman is exposed for the deceitful career politician that he is.”
State records show the committee did not raise or spend any money during the three-week fundraising period. That will likely change in the next fundraising cycle. The group rolled out an advertisement targeting Workman last week, and is ramping up its efforts.
