Mitch Perry
After the Parkland mass shooting two weeks ago, Bernie Fensterwald is more determined than ever to win in Senate District 16.
As proof, the Dunedin Democrat is putting $25,000 of his own money into the campaign.
“I’m 100 percent committed to this race, and I’m willing to prove it,” Fensterwald announced Friday. “The tragedy in Parkland only strengthened my conviction towards winning this race … I’ve been blessed in my life, and I want to commit myself to public service, but I won’t win unless I talk to as many voters as possible.”
In 2016, Fensterwald ran in House District 65 in 2016 and lost to Republican Chris Sprowls. Some criticized him for only spending $35,000 in the race when his personal finances show he is worth $19.8 million.
But the northern Virginia native told Florida Politics in January that his money is tied up in real estate. “The mere fact that I have in my case $19 million doesn’t mean that there’s the liquidity to that kind of thing. Unfortunately, that’s the way it was taken.”
Unfortunately for Fensterwald, he seems to be running against Pinellas County Republicans who don’t have a problem fundraising.
Sprowls raised $472,000 in the HD 65 race two years ago, and the top Republican in the SD 16 race, former state Rep. Ed Hooper, has raised more than $297,000 nearly eight months before the general election.
Before announcing his self-contribution, Fensterwald raised only a little more than $13,000 for the race. But the financial discrepancy isn’t fazing him.
“I ran in 2016, and I found that the best way to get out to voters is door to door. Starting the first full week in March, I and my supporters will begin going door to door,” he said Friday. “And when I spoke to voters, the biggest thing they connected to politics was corruption.
“The money I’m putting into this campaign will help launch our efforts to speak to voters, and I’m confident that as more people hear our message of bringing integrity to Tallahassee, they’ll support our campaign.”
Now, a third candidate entered the race, with Republican Leo Karruli joining earlier this week.
Karruli, 50, owns Leo’s Italian Grill on U.S. 19 in Palm Harbor.
SD 16 encompasses Clearwater, Dunedin, Safety Harbor, Palm Harbor, New Port Richey and Oldsmar. It had no representation in this year’s Legislative Session after incumbent Jack Latvala resigned in December after allegations of sexual harassment.
