Scott Powers
Democratic Florida House of Representatives candidate Lee Mangold has announced his first campaign fundraiser with a Roaring ’20s speakeasy theme.
Mangold’s Speakeasy Soiree and Fundraiser is set for Sept. 18 at Luisa’s Cellar in Sanford.
Mangold, of Casselberry, now has an opponent in the Democratic primary for the 2020 election, with the entry Thursday of Sanford businesswoman Pasha Baker.
They both are seeking a shot at Republican state Rep. David Smith of Winter Springs. Smith defeated Mangold 51-49 in 2018 to take the seat vacated by Republican state Rep. Jason Brodeur.
Tickets for Mangold’s fundraiser start at $100 for “Roaring 28” status, and go up to $1,000 for VIP “All That Jazz” status and access.
The party’s host committee list still was being organized Thursday afternoon and was not available.
Mangold is a cybersecurity entrepreneur, and an adjunct professor at the University of Central Florida where he teaches cybersecurity.
While he is calling this event the kickoff of his fundraising efforts, Mangold starts at a decided cash disadvantage to Smith, who’s shown fundraising prowess in two previous runs for office, including his 2018 election. Through the end of August Smith had raised more than $131,000 and had $97,000 in the bank, while Mangold had raised about $15,000 and had about $6,400 in hand.
Yet in the 2018 election, Smith outspent Mangold by a ratio of more than five to one, and the election went down to the wire. Then again, in 2018 Mangold did not face a primary, and was able to spend his campaign focusing on Smith in the general election.
The district covers northeastern Seminole County.
