A.G. Gancarski
“Working for Florida’s Families,” the political committee of Senate Appropriations Chair Rob Bradley, reached a milestone in October, clearing $500,000 cash on hand.
The committee raised an even $40,000 last month, and as one might expect, that money came in big chunks.
The “Keeping Florida Affordable” political committee, helmed by Jacksonville’s John Rood, with its biggest donation as of September from the Southern Strategy Group, anted up $10,000.
Among the $5,000 donors: the Orange Park Kennel Club of bestbet fame and Alkermes, a Massachusetts-based pharmaceutical company that focuses on central nervous system diseases, marketing opioids to that end.
Interestingly in the context of the state’s seeming inability to ramp up a functional medical cannabis program, Alkermes has hired at least one researcher whose public profile has been predicated on discrediting the palliative properties of the ever-controversial herb.
Also donating $5,000: Kuder, an Iowa-based education company that providentially manages a “statewide online career planning system” that, per a 2016 piece of corporate PR, “has everything under the sun to help you land your dream job.”
Expect donations to ramp up from other parties, as Bradley only took over the budget helm this week, with embattled Jack Latvala stepping aside.
All told, Bradley’s committee has raised roughly $1.194 million and spent roughly $689,000.
