A.G. Gancarski
On a shoestring budget of just over $9,000, Jacksonville City Councilman Sam Newby won his at-large seat on the City Council three years ago, defeating a candidate who raised 15 times what he did in the May 2015 unitary general election.
And, if his first month in the race is any indication, Newby figures he can win re-election without eye-popping fundraising totals.
Newby brought in just $4,600, with a $100 personal loan and $4,500 in external contributions from five donors.
However, those donors are noteworthy.
Among them, a “big three” of sorts: the Orange Park Kennel Club, the Jacksonville Kennel Club, and Jacksonville Greyhound Racing.
All three gambling entities gave the maximum of $1,000, as did Sleiman Holdings, which is currently in a legal imbroglio with the city over busted docks and other issues at the Jacksonville Landing.
These donors suggest that if Newby needs to raise more serious money going forward, he could.
However, he didn’t in April.
Newby has one opponent currently, Democrat Chad McIntyre, who thus far has yet to report fundraising.
Newby is entrenched in the local Republican Party hierarchy and is a close ally of Mayor Lenny Curry, who hired Newby’s council assistant Chiquita Moore to become a City Council liaison beginning later this month.
