Matt Willhite donates to 10 Palm Beach charities as he spends down House campaign account

Democratic Rep. Matt Willhite is sending $5,000 to charities in Palm Beach County as part of an effort to wind down his old House campaign account while he seeks a seat on the Palm Beach County Commission.

Willhite is sending 10 separate donations of $500 each to charities across District 6, where he is running to succeed outgoing Commissioner Melissa McKinlay. McKinlay is blocked from running again because of term limits. District 6 includes the communities of Belle Glade, Pahokee and South Bay.

Willhite recently donated to the Acreage Athletic League, The Arc of the Glades, Back to Basics, Barky Pines, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, Garden of Hope, The Glades Initiative, Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies, Loxahatchee Lost and Found Pets, and People of Purpose.

Willhite presented those checks in a series of ceremonies across the county.

“These charities are certainly in need of support and I’m glad to be able to help them,” Willhite said in a statement to Florida Politics.

The outgoing Representative says the cash comes from remaining campaign funds from previous House runs. Willhite is currently serving his third term in the House, representing House District 86. He’s eligible to run once more for the House before facing term limits, but is giving up that final term to seek the District 6 seat on the Palm Beach County Commission.

Willhite is competing as a Democrat against Michelle McGovern and Sylvia L. Sharps. Commissioner McKinlay has endorsed McGovern in the contest. Republican candidate Sara Baxter has also filed for the seat.

While Willhite is winding down his old House campaign account, his political committee, Floridians for Public Safety, still has plenty of cash. As of Aug. 31, Willhite holds just under $181,000 between his PC and his new campaign account set up for the Palm Beach County Commission run. McGovern is second in the field in cash on hand, retaining just under $121,000.