Jesse Scheckner
Republican Juan Carlos Porras and his Democratic opponent in House District 119, Gabriel Gonzalez, have applied very different approaches to fundraising. Judging from his haul in the month since the Primary Election, Porras’ method appears more effective.
Between Aug. 23 and Sept. 23, Porras amassed nearly $73,000. All those gains came through his campaign account. An overwhelming portion consisted of corporate contributions and donations from political organizations.
He also spent more than $52,000, some of it from his political committee, Conservatives for a Better Miami-Dade. And he enjoyed $23,000 worth of in-kind aid from the Florida GOP.
Porras, a Republican operative turned business owner, raised close to $200,000 between May and the last week of September. Of that, he had $31,000 remaining Sept. 23.
Gonzalez, a former Miami-Dade Youth Commissioner and Miami Herald Silver Knight awardee, has raised roughly $12,000 through exclusively grassroots donations since May. He had about $2,300 left by the same date.
Despite the fact Gonzalez is now the sole Democrat running in HD 119, his party has yet to give him any in-kind assistance.
Porras’ fundraising over the 31-day period after the Primary came from two main sources, fellow Republicans politicians and the health care industry.
The Florida House Republican Campaign Committee, chaired by Speaker-designate Paul Renner, donated $49,000. The political committees of Porras’ former Primary opponent, Ricky Tsay, and state Reps. Mike Giallombardo and Randy Fine gave $1,000 apiece.
He also accepted $1,000 from for-profit hospital operator HCA Healthcare, the Florida Medical Association, Florida Osteopathic Medical Association and the lobbying arm of the Florida Behavioral Health Association.
Other $1,000 contributions came from the Florida Free Enterprise Fund, Florida Acre, Associated Industries of Florida, Gold Coast Beverage, Florida Beer Wholesalers Good Government, Florida Credit Union, Florida Chamber of Commerce and Florida Concrete & Producers Association.
Sarasota-based FCCI Insurance Group chipped in $2,000 through a pair of subsidiaries.
The preponderance of Porras’ spending — $45,500 — went to former Florida GOP Deputy Political Director Alex Miranda’s Coral Gables-based consulting firm Miranda Advocacy. The money paid for voter outreach, marketing, mail, printing and signage.
Porras paid $4,500 to Coral Gables firm Red Road Consulting. He also contributed $500 to the campaign of public affairs consultant and GOP insider Vicki Lopez, who is running for the seat representing House District 113.
Between Aug. 23 and Sept. 23, Gonzalez raised $5,900. His fundraising consisted of more than 70 personal checks ranging from $1 to $500. Pinecrest Village Council member Anna Hochkammer gave him $250.
Of the $4,000 he spent, about 82% paid for campaign signs. The rest went to T-shirts, communication services and gas for canvassing.
HD 119 covers a strip of unincorporated Miami-Dade County encompassing parts of West Kendall, Country Walk and The Crossings.
The General Election is on Nov. 8. Early voting in Miami-Dade begins Oct. 24 and runs through Nov. 6.
