Hill, Crisafulli bolster re-election bids

By News Service of Florida

Rep. Mike Hill, R-Pensacola, and incoming House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, R-Merritt Island, each raised more than $30,000 from Aug. 30 to Sept. 12 to help fuel their re-election campaigns, according to newly filed finance reports. Hill, who is running in House District 2 in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, collected $35,450 during the two-week period, bringing his overall total to $153,856. Democrat Jeremy Lau, who is trying to unseat Hill, had raised a total of $10,295 as of Sept. 12. Crisafulli, who will become House speaker if he wins re-election in Brevard County's House District 51, raised $31,000 from Aug. 30 to Sept. 12, bringing his overall total to $537,768, the reports show. Democrat Joe Murray, who is challenging Crisafulli, had collected a total of $975 as of Sept. 12. Meanwhile, in the Orlando area, Rep. Karen Castor Dentel, D-Maitland, reported raising $28,670 during the two-week period, giving her a total of $205,453 as she seeks another term in House District 30 in Orange and Seminole counties. Her challenger, Republican Bob Cortes, brought in $9,750 from Aug. 30 to Sept. 12 and reported an overall total of $114,380.