A.G. Gancarski
In September, Jacksonville City Council candidate Randy DeFoor launched her 2019 campaign.
Shortly thereafter, DeFoor, a Republican running to replace termed-out Jim Love in District 14. rolled out an all-star roster for a fundraiser.
In October, we have an idea of what that fundraiser did; predictably, it brought in big money — $51,850 to be exact.
Among those who wrote checks: At-Large Councilman Greg Anderson, Duval County Tax Collector Michael Corrigan, Karen Bowling, Susie Wiles and a panoply of local movers and shakers.
DeFoor’s political committee (“Safe and Prosperous Jacksonville”) also raked in $25,000 via the politically-connected Summit Contracting, whose Marc and Nicole Padgett are not afraid to cut a check.
DeFoor’s big haul was the highlight of Council fundraising at the time of this writing on Tuesday morning.
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Two Republican fundraising stalwarts — Ron Salem (running to replace John Crescimbeni in At-Large 2) and Matt Carlucci (running to replace Greg Anderson in At-Large 4) — had slower months than normal.
Salem brought in $2,590 — his most modest total since entering the race, and his fourth straight month under $3,500. The biggest name on his donor list: former State Attorney Angela Corey.
Salem has an opponent — former district councilman and mayoral candidate Bill Bishop. Bishop has yet to start fundraising, while Salem has $103,000 on hand.
Carlucci has no opponent yet and almost $140,000 on hand, but like Salem, his fundraising hit a relative lull in September (Carlucci is an insurance agent, and Irma drove claims locally).
Carlucci, a former head of the Florida Ethics Commission, brought in $14,425 — the weakest of his four months as an active candidate. Among the donations: $1,000 from Aaron Bean‘s “Florida Conservative Alliance” political committee.
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Other filed candidates have yet to get fundraising traction thus far, and are below $2,000 cash on hand.
Two recent entries to watch in October: the aforementioned Bill Bishop, and current District 7 Councilman Reggie Gaffney, who launched his re-election campaign late in September.
Gaffney has $1,000 banked, all of it from one check from his Council assistant.
