Drew Wilson
Clearwater Republican Ed Hooper announced a fundraiser for his Senate campaign next week in Palm Harbor.
The May 9 event will be held from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm at Catcher and the Rye, 917 11th St.
More than two dozen names are listed on the host committee, including attorney Ed Armstrong, accountant Steve Bunch, auto dealer Scott Fink, Pinellas Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, developer Brent Sembler and lobbyist Alan Suskey.
Supporters can get more information on the event or join the host committee by sending a not to Mari Riba at [email protected].
Hooper is running for Senate District 16, which was vacated earlier this year with the resignation of Clearwater Republican Jack Latvala. Hooper faces restauranteur Leo Karruli in the primary, while Bernie Fensterwald is the only Democrat running for the Pinellas County seat.
Through the end of March, Hooper led the money race with nearly $250,000 on hand in his campaign account and another $95,000 on hand in his political committee, Friends of Ed Hooper.
Fensterwald, through the same date, has brought in nearly $60,000 for his campaign and has about $27,000 on hand. His total includes $44,000 in loans. Karruli has raised $100 in outside money and has loaned his campaign about $4,000. He has $656 in the bank.
Hooper served in the Florida House from 2006 to 2014. Prior to elected office, Hooper worked for 24 years as a firefighter in Clearwater.
Among his endorsements for state Senate are the local branch of the Fraternal Order of Police, Senate President-designate Bill Galvano, Senate Majority Leader Wilton Simpson, Pinellas Sheriff Bob Gualtieri and former House Speaker Will Weatherford.
The Republican-leaning district covers the communities of Clearwater, Dunedin, Safety Harbor, Palm Harbor, New Port Richey and Oldsmar.
Hooper’s invite is below.
