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Jim Norman's fundraising slows, but not his campaigning for Hillsborough County Commission

 
Published March 19, 2016

After a superfast start, fundraising by Hillsborough County Commission candidate Jim Norman has slowed considerably, but he's still spending rapidly.

Norman raised more than $100,000 in his first three months, September-November, but since then he has spent money much faster than it has come in. In December, January and February, he reported raising $4,400 and spending $20,202.

Norman has paid more than $23,000 for office space and campaign work to GPS Partners, a firm run by longtime supporter George Sucarichi, and has hired a campaign aide for $1,100 a month.

In all, he has raised $112,075 and spent $39,240, leaving him about $73,000 in cash.

By comparison, potential Democratic opponent Pat Kemp has raised $63,860 and spent $8,789, for about $55,000 left. Democrat Brian Willis has raised $73,865 and spent $30,301.

Regardless of his spending, Norman is campaigning the same way he always has, with heavy emphasis on grass roots support. He knocks on doors every day, friends say, and another of his largest expenditures is postage for mailers.

Delegate selection could be key this year

The process of picking national convention delegates may get more attention this year than usual. The chance of an open Republican convention, in which delegates have to vote repeatedly to settle on a winner, could make it important who those delegates are.

State law says Florida delegates are bound to vote for the state primary winner only through the first ballot, but even that's not guaranteed. Convention rules, which will be voted on by the delegates at the convention, take precedence over state law when it comes to party business.

Potential delegates are applying now, and most will be elected by committees of county party officials in mid April.

Veteran Tampa GOP activist April Schiff is an applicant. She's not a Donald Trump supporter, but would she vote for him if she wasn't bound to? "I don't know — it may depend on the choices or what the rules are," she said.

On the other hand, applicant Terry Castro of Tampa, who was undecided but voted for Trump, wants to prevent party leaders from denying the nomination to any clear leader including Trump.

"I'll accept any nominee as long as they play it according to Hoyle," she said. "I don't want to see party leaders try to jury-rig this thing."

Hillsborough County GOP chairwoman Deborah Tamargo, among those choosing delegates, predicted there won't be an open convention.

House members eye Lee's Senate seat

State Sen. Tom Lee, R-Brandon, is again talking about not running for re-election in the new district he'd have to move to under the newly redrawn Senate districts.

That would open up District 20, which covers the corners of Hillsborough, Pasco and Polk counties, and likely draw attention from several state House members.

The district leans GOP and has a majority of its voters in Hills­borough, so those most being talked about are Republican Reps. Shawn Harrison of Tampa, Dan Raulerson of Plant City and Ross Spano of Dover, all of whom live in or very near the district.

Harrison and Raulerson said they could be interested if the opportunity arose; Spano, who Lee said has talked to potential backers, couldn't be reached.

Beckner hangs onto fundraising lead

County Commissioner Kevin Beckner is maintaining his fundraising lead in the Democratic primary race for clerk of court against incumbent Pat Frank. He has raised $167,937 and spent $32,235. Frank has raised $106,574 and spent $41,456.

Frank's daughter and campaign stalwart Stacy Frank said her mother has always run and won her campaigns without raising large amounts, adding, "This race is not going to be about money," but about name recognition and reputation.