Moore leads commission fundraising
Michael Moore has picked up a fast fundraising start in the race to replace Pat Mulieri on the Pasco County Commission.
Through the end of the year, Moore — a Wesley Chapel resident who founded CareFirst Home Care in 2004 — has raised $40,715, which is four times as much as his opponent, Bob Robertson. Both are running as Republicans.
Moore’s biggest boost came just after Thanksgiving from Tarpon Springs businessman Lew Friedland, who contributed $8,000 through various corporations.
Robertson, a self-employed asset manager from Zephyrhills, loaned his campaign $3,000 right at the start. In his first few months campaigning, he raised more than $3,500 additional cash donations from outside Florida, primarily in Maryland and Pennsylvania.
At the beginning of November, he picked up $1,500 more from companies controlled by Jeffrey Greenacre on Gunn Highway.
Commissioner Henry Wilson, who looks to hold on to his District 4 seat, is the only candidate to have filed so far. He’s raised $5,750 through the end of December.
Crooked Creek Ranch holds fundraiser
Republican candidates for the state House — Danny Burgess, Shawn Harrison, Chris Latvala and Chris Sprowls — will raise money through a Wild Game Dinner at Crooked Creek Ranch, 29325 Darby Road, Dade City, Jan. 31 beginning at 5 p.m.
Donations will be accepted up to the state maximum of $1,000 per individual to support each campaign.
Burgess, the current mayor of Zephyrhills, is facing a primary against Minerva Diaz in District 38, the seat currently held by Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel. Harrison also has a Republican primary challenger for District 63, Bret Wedding, for a seat currently held by Mark Danish, D-Tampa.
Latvala has filed to run in District 67 in a seat currently held by Ed Hooper, R-Clearwater. He’s facing Christopher Shepard and Frederick Thomson so far in the primary.
Sprowls is a candidate for District 65, in a seat currently held by Carl Zimmerman, D-Palm Harbor. He is expected to face off with Debbie Faulkner in his primary.
For details about the dinner, visit VoteDannyBurgess.com.
Bilirakis endorses Moore for commission
Mike Moore’s run to replace Pat Mulieri on the Pasco County Commission got a boost from U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Palm Harbor, who endorsed the Wesley Chapel businessman for the seat.
Bilirakis had presented Moore with a North Tampa Chamber of Commerce leadership award in 2006, and has been following his career ever since, according to a release.
“Mike has the required character traits to help take Pasco County to the next level,” Bilirakis said in a statement. “Mike understands that small businesses are the engine that drive our economy. He knows that cutting red tape and lowering taxes is what it takes to allow businesses to thrive.”
Moore’s previous endorsements include State Sen. Wilton Simpson, Sen. John Legg, Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco, U.S. Rep. Will Weatherford and Pasco County Schools superintendent Kurt Browning, among others.
So far, Moore is running against another Republican, Bob Robertson, for Pasco County Commission District 2.
Ross holds first town hall
U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Lakeland, hosted his first telephone town hall meeting of 2014 on Jan. 14, with nearly 5,000 constituents participating.
The call addressed a number of questions, from the country’s debt, the Affordable Care Act, immigration, the IRS, foreign aid, balancing the budget, Social Security and unemployment benefits.
Anyone with a question, or who might be interested in joining a future town hall meeting, should email Ross through DennisRoss.House.gov/contact, or call his district office at (863) 644-8215.
Ross so far is facing former WFTS-Channel 28 investigative reporter Alan Cohn, a Democrat, for his Congressional seat in November.
Two elections offices reopening
The Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections recently hosted a grand reopening of its regional offices, located at 12022 Anderson Road in Tampa, and 10439 Gibsonton Drive in Riverview.
These are the same offices that were added during the 2012 election cycle, and will be open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. They join two permanent offices, one in downtown Tampa, and the other in Brandon.
Hillsborough County’s next countywide elections are the primaries on Aug. 26, followed by the general election Nov. 4.
For more information, visit VoteHillsborough.org, or call (813) 744-5900.
