Ryan Nicol
Mike Caruso, an accountant and Republican candidate in House District 89, put a small dent in a large cash-on-hand deficit between he and Democratic nominee Jim Bonfiglio.
That’s according to the latest fundraising data filed with the Florida Division of Elections.
Overall, Bonfiglio’s campaign remains far ahead of Caruso’s in terms of cash-on-hand, leading him $75,779 to $14,585.
But that gap was reduced despite Caruso spending more than he took in during the latest reporting period of Sept. 1 to 14. Caruso earned $13,600 in outside donations while spending $13,977.
Several outside conservative groups added $1,000 donations to Caruso’s campaign. They were joined by a few individual donors as well.
Bonfiglio, the current Mayor of Ocean Ridge, ran an even bigger deficit during the most recent period, spending $11,328 while bringing in just $2,130 in contributions. The law firm Silber & Davis put in $1,000. A pair of political committees added another $500 each.
Both candidates came out on top of contested primaries last month. Bonfiglio and Caruso are now competing to replace outgoing GOP state Rep. Bill Hager, who is term-limited.
The contest is expected to be close, with Hager, a Republican, showing some vulnerability in previous elections. If 2018 turns out to be a Democratic wave, that could be enough to push Bonfiglio into office.
HD 89 runs up the coast of Palm Beach County.
