A.G. Gancarski
Jacksonville political veteran Matt Carlucci, a Republican running for City Council in At Large Group 4, was the first candidate in the 2019 cycle to clear $250,000 raised.
He did that by the end of March, a signal that Carlucci — a former Mayoral candidate, a previous member of the Council, and most recently, the head of the Florida Commission on Ethics — would not be outraised.
Carlucci has put the fundraising on the backburner, and has turned to pushing endorsements from prominent politicians of his generation.
The latest in what will be a long list: former two-term Mayor John Delaney, whose tenure had overlap with that of Carlucci.
“Matt’s character and integrity are deep in his core. He knows how to bring people together to make great things happen for the city we both love. He understands that Jacksonville is at its best when we are together,” said Delaney.
Delaney’s endorsement follows that of another former two-term mayor, Democrat Jake Godbold, and such plaudits will only augment a sense of inevitability for Carlucci’s return to the Council dais. Especially given that the candidate has almost a quarter-million dollars on hand.
His opponents have thus far not managed impressive fundraising. Through the end of September, Republicans Harold McCart and Don Redman have $21,000 and $12,000 on hand respectively. Newly filed Democrat Alexander Watkins has yet to report any receipts.
The four way race may ensure a May runoff after the March first election; thus far, however, one candidate has most of the juice.
The Carlucci race is the most extreme example of a trend in Council races, one of deep fundraising disparities as the election nears, as end-of-September bookkeeping reveals.
In District 2, incumbent Republican Al Ferraro has nearly $63,000 on hand; his two opponents have raised under $500 between them.
In District 5, Republican LeAnna Cumber has about $177,000 on hand. Her one Democratic opponent, James Jacobs, has languished with under $500 on hand for months.
In District 7, incumbent “Curry-crat” Reggie Gaffney has over $56,000 on hand, more money than his six opponents have raised between them. District 8 sees Democrat Tameka Gaines Holly likewise with more on hand than her 11 opponents have raised.
In At Large Group 4, Republican Ron Salem has nearly $174,000 on hand; Democrat Darren Mason has $745.
And in AL-5, incumbent Republican Sam Newby has $27,000 on hand, with Democrats Niki Brunson and Chad McIntyre with just over $4,000 between them (all of it in McIntyre’s account).
Some candidates have bankrolls and no competition at all.
District 4 incumbent Republican Scott Wilson has $21,900 on hand. Danny Becton, another incumbent Republican, has over $87,000 on hand for his return bid. District 13 Republican Rory Diamond has over $117,000 banked. And AL-3 Democrat Tommy Hazouri has no competition and his own six-figure bankroll.
