Buying ads, but Tracye Polson still holds money lead in HD 15
Tracye Polson getting ideas from HD 15 residents on the trail in 2018. [Photo: A.G. Gancarski]

Tracye Polson

In the competitive race to replace Jay Fant in Westside Jacksonville’s House District 15, Democrat Tracye Polson is starting to spend her nest egg, but still holds a big cash lead over Republican Wyman Duggan.

Polson raised $14,143 and spent $59,583 between Sept. 1 and 14, giving her a total of $100,000 left in hard money.

Most of that money was spent on media: SnyderPickerill Media Group out of Chicago got over $14,000 for “production costs,” and an additional $42,000+ went to media buy.

Per her Wikipedia, Terrie Pickerill cites Obama alum David Axelrod as a mentor, and that mainstream Democratic feel can be seen in Polson’s television ad,

The Polson spot contrasts Duggan’s career as a lobbyist with Polson’s advocacy for students and law enforcement.

The Duggan side noted the attack in the ad, and expect them to respond in kind.

Polson also got $33,125 in in-kind contributions from the Florida Democratic Party, a number defrayed by $25,000 moved to the FDP from Polson’s Better Jacksonville political committee. That committee has $16,000 on it.

Duggan is still far behind Polson in cash on hand, even as he’s gaining momentum after a fractious primary.

Between Sept. 1 and 14, Duggan raised $21,250, a muscular haul from just 21 contributions.

Among the Duggan donors: PHRMA, Palm Beach Kennel Club, Free Markets Florida (a committee involving state Reps. Travis Cummings, Manny Diaz, and Ray Rodrigues), Floridians for Economic Freedom (a committee aligned with Associated Industries of Florida), Florida Patriot Fund (a committee tied to Rep. Halsey Beshears), Florida Foundation for Liberty (a Rep. Paul Renner committee).

Ahead of the primary, 76 percent of Duggan’s money came from outside the district. What’s clear is that in the general, the Republicans in Tallahassee are rallying behind Duggan. Even as the local buy-in may be proving elusive.

The only in-district donation: $250 from Jacksonville City Councilman Jim Love.

He will need more rallying still.  Duggan has under $23,000 on hand, putting him well behind Polson’s $116,000+.

A.G. Gancarski

A.G. Gancarski has written for FloridaPolitics.com since 2014. He is based in Northeast Florida. He can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter: @AGGancarski


One comment

  • Westside Jack

    September 22, 2018 at 10:11 am

    Lenny and his boys gave us the least electable Republican possible.

    Two weeks after the primary and only 1 in district contribution!

    Nice job.

Comments are closed.


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