Auburndale Mayor Jack Myers, Rep. Kelli Stargel and Ron Rushing | Credit: myfloridahouse.gov
First elected to the Florida House in 2008, Stargel -- whose husband served two terms in the Florida House before heading to the bench to serve as a judge -- raised more than $60,000 in the second quarter of 2012.
While she spent almost $48,500 during the second quarter, Stargel has been keeping her powder dry. So far in the 2012 election cycle, she has raised more than $206,750 and kept most of it in the bank, spending less than $94,500. With a month to go until the primary, Stargel has more than $112,000 on hand, an impressive war chest that towers over what her Republican rivals have been able to stash away.
Jack Myers, the mayor of Auburndale and a former Polk County commissioner, has not been able to march Stargel’s fundraising pace. Myers raised more than $22,500 in the second quarter and spent more than $55,000. So far during the 2012 election cycle, Myers has raised just under $150,000 and spent almost $109,000 -- giving him around $41,000 in the final weeks before the primary.
Businessman and conservative activist Ron Rushing trails far behind Stargel and Myers in the money chase. He raised slightly more than $300 in the second quarter and took in more than $1,700 through in-kind donations. Rushing spent almost $2,900 during that period. So far in the 2012 election cycle, he has raised more than $6,900, spent more than $5,800 and relied on more than $4,700 through in-kind donations.
Whoever emerges on the Republican side after the Aug. 14 primary will face Democratic candidate Stego Blue, a Navy veteran. Since entering the race in the latter half of May, Blue raised $700, loaned his campaign $1,600 and spent almost $2,100 in the second quarter of 2012.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
