Palm Coast Republican Paul Renner reeled in $56,210 in contributions from March 1 through Thursday, as he built a massive fundraising edge heading into next week’s special election in House District 24, according to the state Division of Elections website. In all, Renner raised $294,340 and had spent $261,748 for the election Tuesday in a district that includes Flagler County and parts of St. Johns and Volusia counties.
His opponent, St. Augustine Democrat Adam Morley, raised $1,506 from March 1 through Thursday, bringing the overall total to $4,559. Renner and Morley are seeking to replace Rep. Travis Hutson, an Elkton Republican who is running Tuesday in a special election in Senate District 6, which includes St. Johns, Flagler and Putnam counties and part of Volusia County.
The Senate seat opened up when St. Augustine Republican John Thrasher resigned in November to become president of Florida State University. Hutson raised $13,000 on March 2, bringing his overall total to $399,905, according to the state Division of Elections website. He has been barred from raising money since the March 3 start of the legislative session. Updated finance information for Hutson’s opponent, Daytona Beach Democrat David Cox, had not been posted on the state website early Friday evening. But Cox had raised only $450 through Feb. 28.
Early voting in the special election for both seats ends today at 4:30 p.m. All registered Flagler County voters of any party, including independents, may cast a ballot in the Senate or House races Tuesday.–News Service of Florida
confidential says
Adam Morley and David Cox got our votes!
Big money should not win elections!
deserttoocean says
Paul Renner a Palm Coast Republican??? He just moved here from Jacksonville so that he could run in this district. Also, I’m wondering where this money he raised came from…
Diana LeBrun says
Renner moved here 3 months ago, just to run. Adam Morley and David Cox are young men with new ideas. Let’s show them we won’t let our elections be bought. Vote Adam Morley and David Cox. Both live and work here. They were here yesterday, today and will be here tomorrow. They live here and care about this area.
DrakeDesign says
Nothing illustrates the need for campaign finance reform more than this example. The people with the money – big business and the 1% – are padding the candidates that serve their needs. Meanwhile, great people like Adam Morley can’t get their message heard and voters will never even find out about them.
Faith says
Adam Morley! Thank you for raising money for a sick child instead of frantically playing the tired old campaign game! From the depth of my soul I pray you are elected!
Merrill Shapiro says
Didn’t Karl Rove have $300 million to get Mitt Romney elected? Certainly our local electorate cannot be bought for any amount of money raised. What will get Adam Morley elected is his being on the proper side of so many issues, much more reflective of the feelings of the people or our community!
confidential says
I ask please to Flagler County voters to get out and vote for a change in Tallahassee!! Vote two good men Cox and Morley, that will lobby for the needs of us all in our communities and not for the outsiders big money special interest!
carol mikola says
It’s public information; look it up.
Lancer says
Since the creation of the state, there has always been money in politics…ALWAYS and that will never change.
There is precedent for “move ins” winning. Renner is a veteran and lawyer. Yes, he moved to the area to win the seat. Hutson is from Jacksonville and also moved to the area to run, and win, as well. St. Johns county and their population dominates the district. No democrat has a chance of beating them. Even with the Nor’eastern move ins to Flagler….this area is largely fiscally conservative and thank goodness for it. Therefore, you have a few options:
1. If you want locals to win these seats, the “old guard” of the area needs to mentor talented, younger fiscally minded conservatives to run and win. There are plenty of upstanding, successful fiscally conservative minded people to groom in the area. I say “fiscal conservative” because they are tremendous stewards of taxpayer dollars and don’t get mired in the mindless abyss of social issues.
2. Have a plan in place to address these issues:
a. Economic growth within the district, not just the tourist areas.
b. Directing smart development that addresses future growth. St. Johns is full fledged tourism. Flagler wants to maintain its authenticity. There must be a plan and direction to address it.
Everyone knew when Thrasher was offered the FSU Chancellor’s position he would take it. Everyone also knew that Hutson would run for that seat.
If you want locals to win local seats…you have to go with the flow and find appealing candidates that share the mindset of the area and have a plan for its growth.