Peter Schorsch
Treasure Island Republican Rep. Kathleen Peters’ fundraising lead in the race for Pinellas County Commission District 6 keeps growing.
New fundraising reports show the third-term lawmaker tacked on $25,435 in contributions last month – her best total in nearly a year. She has now raised $112,000 since filing for the seat in May 2017 and has nearly $76,000 of that cash at the ready.
Peters announced near the end of April that she had gathered enough signatures to qualify for the ballot by petition.
She faces Republicans Larry Ahern, also a state Representative, and Barb Haselden in the race. Haselden is still in the No. 2 spot in total fundraising, though Ahern passed her in cash on hand after posting the better report in April.
The termed-out lawmaker showed $7,200 in new contributions last month as well as $4,000 in spending. That brings his campaign’s lifetime total up to $40,040 through 13 months. He has $29,200 banked.
Haselden, an insurance agent who runs her own business, brought in $1,845 last month and spent nearly $1,000. The April numbers are her best of 2018 and follow a $0 March report. She has raised a total of $42,152 – nearly half of which was raised in her first month – and has $28,763 in the bank.
The three Republicans were recently joined by Democrat Amy Kedron, who won’t show her first fundraising numbers until June.
District 6 includes the communities of Indian Shores, Redington Beach, Redington Shores, Madeira Beach, Pinellas Park, Seminole, Treasure Island and St. Pete Beach. The seat is currently held by John Morroni, who is retiring after four terms on the commission.
The District 6 race will be on the November ballot alongside District 2 and District 4. Incumbent Commissioner Dave Eggers is currently unopposed in the District 4 race, while District 2 incumbent Pat Gerard is being challenged by Clearwater Vice Mayor Doreen Caudell. Through April, Gerard led Caudell in the money race by about $45,000.
