Drew Wilson
February campaign finance reports show Pat Gerard and state Rep. Kathleen Peters are firmly in the lead in the races for the District 2 and District 6 seats on the Pinellas County Commission.
Gerard, a Democrat and the incumbent District 2 commissioner, raised $4,650 last month, putting her campaign a couple hundred dollars shy of the $100,000 mark since she filed in June. Heading into March, she had nearly $80,000 in the bank.
Her opponent for the fall, Republican Doreen Caudell, raised an even $1,000 last month and spent triple that to finish February with just shy of $45,000 on hand.
Gerard took in 34 contributions in February, including a $500 check from Largo surgeon Stephen Weinstock. Another seven donors pitched in $250 each, while a dozen small-dollar donors gave contributions of less than $100.
Spending registered at $2,286 for the month, all of which went to Blue Ticket Consulting.
In the District 6 commission race, Peters posted $0 in contributions for the month due to her status as a lawmaker and spent $1,416.
The report left her with about $65,000 in the bank – more than her two opponents combined.
Peters faces fellow Republicans Barb Haselden and state Rep. Larry Ahern in the District 6 race.
Ahern also posted $0 raised last month and spent $1,145, leaving him with $28,196 in the bank. Haselden, who operates St. Pete-based Hometown Insurors, raised $392 and spent $1,927 in February to finish the month with $29,270 on hand.
Also up for election in 2018 is the District 4 commission seat currently held by Commissioner Dave Eggers, who is so far unopposed in his re-election bid.
He’s raised $6,878 for his campaign thus far, though he didn’t add any money in February. He finished the month with $6,315 on hand.
