Scott Powers
Republican candidate Scott Sturgill raised more than $200,000 in the third quarter of 2017 for his campaign to win Florida’s 7th Congressional District in Central Florida.
Sturgilll, a Sanford businessman, sits well behind Democratic incumbent Stephanie Murphy of Winter Park in the early money race toward the 2018 election. Last week Murphy reported that her fundraising had topped $1 million toward her re-election bid.
However, Sturgill leads state Rep. Mike Miller of Winter Park heading toward the 2018 Republican primary. Miller reported raising $156,000.
Sturgill’s big showing came in part through his own wallet. The chief executive officer of Durable Safety Products contributed $100,250 through a personal loan to his campaign. His total came in at $206,395. After expenses, he reported having $177,499 going into October.
“We are excited for the support my campaign has received so far,” Sturgill said. “We hit our target and I then matched from my own pocket dollar for dollar up to $100,000.”
Sturgill has notable endorsements from Florida Lt. Governor Carlos Lopez-Cantera, Seminole County Tax Collector Joel Greenberg, Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma, former Orange County Sheriff Kevin Beary.
“Inside the district, our team is growing everyday as we seek to end the career of Nancy Pelosi’s puppet congresswoman,” Sturgill said of Murphy. “Our district will have a real voice again, not one that is funded primarily by outside liberal interests.”
The other Democrat in the race, Chardo Richardson, reported raising $11,724.
CD 7 covers all of Seminole County and north and central Orange County, through and including downtown Orlando.
