Fresen top fundraiser for legislative races

By JIM SAUNDERS
THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, August 11, 2015.......... Moving toward a run for the Florida Senate, state Rep. Erik Fresen, R-Miami, quickly raised more than $109,000 in July --- easily topping all other legislative candidates during the month, according to newly filed reports.

Fresen, chairman of the House Education Appropriations Subcommittee, cannot run again for his House seat in 2016 because of term limits. He began raising money last month for a potential 2018 race in Miami-Dade County's Senate District 40, though at least some Senate districts will change after a special legislative session this fall to redraw lines.

In all, Fresen raised $109,250 in July, while spending only $202, a finance report filed Monday shows. He received contributions from a wide range of players in Tallahassee, including prominent lobbyists, health-care groups and school-choice supporters.

State candidates and political committees were required to file updated campaign-finance reports by a Monday deadline. The reports suggest a relatively quiet fundraising month for legislative candidates, though money poured into a variety of political committees.

As an example, "People United for Medical Marijuana," a committee seeking to pass a ballot initiative in 2016 to legalize medical marijuana, reported raising $770,534 during July, with much of the money coming from a law firm headed by Orlando attorney John Morgan. Similarly, "Consumers for Smart Solar," a committee proposing a ballot initiative on solar energy, raised $463,045 during the month, including receiving contributions from four major electric utilities.

State House races that drew the most money in July included a District 19 contest to replace Rep. Charles Van Zant, a Keystone Heights Republican who is term-limited in 2016.

Former state GOP Chairwoman Leslie Dougher, of Green Cove Springs, entered the race July 1 and raised $22,796 during the month, while spending $1,678. District 19 is in a largely rural area that includes Bradford, Putnam, Union and part of Clay counties.

Van Zant's wife, Katherine, also is in the race, and she nearly matched Dougher's fundraising, bringing in $21,925 in July. Including contributions during previous months, Katherine Van Zant had raised a total of $52,330 as of July 31, while spending $12,579. A third candidate in the race, Palatka Republican Robert Payne, collected $1,225 in contributions during July and had brought in an overall total of $34,675.

Other leading legislative fundraisers during the month included Sarasota Democrat Edward James III, who brought in $26,388 for his campaign in Sarasota County's House District 72, and state Rep. Bob Cortes, an Altamonte Springs Republican who collected $21,149 for his campaign in House District 30 in Orange and Seminole counties.

Also, Rep. Michael Bileca, R-Miami, loaned $60,000 to his re-election campaign in Miami-Dade's House District 115.