As Jacksonville mayoral race closes, Anna Brosche’s fundraising flatlines

Jacksonville City Councilwoman Anna Brosche reported late Friday a slow week of fundraising for her mayoral bid.

Brosche, a Republican mounting an intraparty challenge to incumbent Lenny Curry, raised just over $12,000 from 61 donations from Feb. 9 to Feb. 15.

Prominent donors: Democratic Sheriff’s candidate Tony Cummings; Rev. R.L. Gundy, who filed a Hatch Act complaint against Curry last week for using cops in an ad; and Bono’s BBQ.

Brosche has roughly $108,000 in hard money. Her statewide political committee had raised $374,000 by the end of January, but has been spending also, on television and mail. The next report from that committee is due Mar. 10.

Brosche, a former Jacksonville City Council President who has had ongoing disputes with Curry, is struggling to force a May runoff with the incumbent.

A recent poll from the University of North Florida’s Public Opinion Research Lab is showing Curry the choice of 52 percent of participants, with Republicans  Brosche and Jimmy Hill at 15 and three percent respectively. Independent Omega Allen is at six percent.

If Curry clears 50 percent in March, there is no need for a May runoff.

Curry was ahead of Brosche by 38 points in a public poll of the race conducted last week.

Between hard money and his political committee, the campaign has nearly $2 million on hand.

Curry has benefited greatly from using the buying power of the Florida Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee in recent weeks, which has given the incumbent a disproportionate edge on television saturation. In recent days, Curry’s Jacksonville on the Rise sent Curry another $500,000, bringing the total to $800,000.

While Brosche’s “New Day” political committee will have spent nearly $265,000 on television by the end of February, the FRSCC will have invoiced $721,585 on Curry’s behalf by Mar. 1. Curry will have spent $140,000 in hard money by Mar. 4 also.

Debates? Curry has agreed to one with the field.

With a healthy lead in the polls, Curry has little incentive to engage.

Vote by mail is underway. Early voting starts next week.