Peter Schorsch
Republican oil business owner Wenda Lewis loaned her campaign another $100,000 at the end of July, extending her campaign finance lead over primary rivals Chuck Clemons and Tim Rogers.
Outside of the loan, Lewis brought in just $1,500 for the reporting period spanning July 23 through July 29, while she spent $18,637 mainly on advertising through Alachua-based Ozean Media and Clear Channel Outdoor.
On July 29, the Lewis Oil Company CEO had just under $200,000 in her campaign account, including loans.
Clemons raised just $50 for the reporting period, though he has more than $107,000 in his campaign account, and also has been shelling out cash for advertising recently, including a radio ad painting him as the “true conservative” option in the Alachua County-based district.
Rogers is in a distant third with about $7,500 in the bank, including $100 raised during the reporting period ending Aug. 5, for which campaign finance reports are due Friday.
HD 21 leans Republican despite a large advantage for Democrats in voter registrations, making the winner of the Aug. 30 primary likely to succeed outgoing Republican Rep. Keith Perry in the House.
Also running are Democrat Marihelen Wheeler, who had about $2,500 in the bank on Aug. 5, and write-in candidates Ryan Dyson and Richard Swilley, neither of whom has posted any contributions since filing for the seat.
