Mike Hill opponent catching up but not catching fire

Mike hill was lackluster until the end, and now his is going on the attack.

Michelle Lynn Salzman raised $1,965 last month in her bid to oust Republican Rep. Mike Hill in Escambia County’s House District 1.

Salzman, also a Republican, entered the race in June, shortly after a recording was released of Hill laughing off a suggestion that society start stoning gays.

That recording and Hill’s subsequent non-apology led politicians on both sides of the aisle to condemn the Pensacola lawmaker.

Missives came in from House Speaker José Oliva and Rules Chair Chris Sprowls, both Republicans, and Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried and Sen. Lauren  Book, both Democrats, among others.

Hill’s fundraising for his reelection campaign took a hit as well — between June 1 and Sept. 31, he raised about $3,400, including $520 last month. The prior four months saw him raise $12,155.

Salzman has managed to outraise the incumbent in each of her four finance reports. Her best effort, $3,576, came in June. She has followed that up with three reports weighing in at around $1,965 each.

Each report, including the newest one, features a similar cast of donors. Most are chipping in less than $100 apiece.

In all, she’s raised about $9,500 and has about $6,400 on hand. Hill has $7,500 of the $15,500 he has raised in the bank.

The seat has also drawn a Democratic candidate, Franscine Mathis. She ran for the party nomination last year but lost to Vikki Garrett.

Mathis hasn’t reported any contributions since filing in April.

Even so, the district has one of the largest Republican advantages in the state — Hill cruised past Garrett with 60 percent of the vote last year.

HD 1 covers the bulk of Escambia County, including the communities of Century, Molino, Gonzalez, Ensley, Ferry Pass, Belleview and Brent.