Janelle Irwin Taylor
Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn isn’t facing a challenger, but that hasn’t stopped him from raising almost $360,000. Of that, $68,000 was raised in December.
Buckhorn raked in 30 maximum contributions of $1,000.Those came from groups like the Fiol Law Group, RSA and ASG Consulting groups, Florida Gulf Coast Chapter Association, Franklin Street Financial Partners, the firm Shutts & Bowen, Adams and Reese, HCI Insurance, Web Commerce Partners, Onicx architects, Global Contracting and Cutler Associates. Individual maximum contributions came from real estate investors Jac K. Sperling, Adam and Chrischell Diasti and Bob Abberger. Tampa Bay Lightning CEO Tod Leiweke also kicked in $1,000 as well as several Tampa attorneys and businessmen.
Former Tampa city attorney Jim Shimberg donated $750 to Buckhorn’s campaign and Hillsborough County Commissioner Kevin Beckner kicked in $100.
Buckhorn spent just $2,800 in December. Most of that is listed as “campaign work.” He’s doled out a total of $17,000 throughout the campaign.
Buckhorn had a challenger, activist Becky Rubright, but she withdrew from the race after failing to get enough signatures to qualify by petition. Rubright had only raised $400. That’s far short of the $9,000 required to qualify by fee.
Buckhorn is rumored to be a possible Democratic candidate for governor in 2018. His aggressive fundraising in an unopposed election could signal his intentions, though the mayor has not said he plans to run to replace Rick Scott.
