Alachua Voter Guide

While we wait for the next forum (next Saturday from 1-4pm at the 1st UMC on NE 1st St.), it’s time to check in on the latest contributions and expenditures reports, to see whose ahead and who is having trouble getting out of the gate.

In the Mayor’s race, it’s no surprise that the Mayor himself is in the lead. He started with $4,300 carried over from his last campaign, $600 from the third quarter last year, $7,210 from the fourth quarter, and $8.655 from the past monthly reporting period, for a total of $20,765. After spending $17,423.79, he has a little over $3,400 cash on hand.

Running a distant second is Ed Braddy, who has raised $12,035, all of it in this past reporting period. He has spent $6,487.59, leaving him with a little over $5,500 on hand.

Next is Peter Lars Johnson. He raised $5,700 and $1,200 in the third and fourth quarters of last year, and $3,750 this past month for a total of $10,045. Subtract his $6,845.96 in expenditures, and he has $3,200 in the bank.

Former Commissioner Sherwin  Henry is fourth with $6,698.22, most of it raised in the past month, and after subtracting $4,023.19 in expenses, he has over $2,650 to spend.

Bringing up the rear are Donald Shepherd and Mark Venzke with $100 and $30 raised respectively.

If you are a newcomer to local politics, you must be wondering, “What on earth could they be spending so much money on already that most of it is already gone?” In the case of the Mayor, he has spent $9400 so far on a company called WWD Strategies, LLC. They do political consulting for  Democratic and Progressive candidates. He’s also spent over $1,800 on a campaign headquarters, so far. I don’t know if this will include utilities. And it looks like he’s spent close to $3,000 on signs and palm cards. The rest is postage, pizza , paper and ink and stuff like that.

Braddy has spent around $4,000 on shirts, signs and car magnets, and $844 on research and  a little over $400 on his web site. The usual dribs and drabs on ink and stamps and such. No office for him. No consultants.

Johnson has spent $4,300 for signs and $1,000 for consulting. The rest is minutia.

Henry has spent about $1,800 on signs, $1,000 on his web site, $245 on T-shirts, $436 on palm cards, and then the little stuff.

In the race for District 4, it’s no surprise the incumbent commissioner Randy Wells is way out front with $7,050 in contributions, which he has not even spent $900. Surprisingly, newcomer ALfredo Espinosa has raised $1,405.49, of which he has $900 left after his qualifying fee and minor expenses. Last is Mac McEachern with $1,350. He’s only spent money on business cards as of this reporting period. There is no sign that he paid the qualifying fee. At least, it’s not in the report, and there is no affidavit of undue burden. I will call the Supervisor of Elections office tomorrow and find out if he was exempt.