Money Flows to Artiles, Moraitis in South Florida

By News Service of Florida

Rep. Frank Artiles, R-Miami, and Rep. George Moraitis, R-Fort Lauderdale, were among the top House campaign fundraisers from Aug. 30 to Sept. 12, as each tries to win a third term in Tallahassee, according to newly filed finance reports. Artiles, who is running in Miami-Dade County's House District 118, collected $42,100 during the two-week period, giving him an overall total of $221,993. His opponent, Democrat Omar Rivero, had raised a total of $9,217 as of Sept. 12, the reports show. Moraitis, who is running in Broward County's House District 93, raised $31,995 during the period, giving him an overall total of $169,955. Scott Herman, Moraitis' Democratic opponent, had raised a total of $4,498 in contributions as of Sept. 12. But Herman also reported making a loan of $250,000 to his campaign on Sept. 11. Meanwhile, in a South Florida House race that has drawn heavy attention, incumbent Rep. Jose Javier Rodriguez, D-Miami, reported collecting $26,982 from Aug. 30 to Sept. 12, bringing his overall total to $219,551, the reports show. Republican Daniel Diaz Leyva, who is trying to unseat Rodriguez in Miami-Dade's House District 112, raised $13,800 during the period, giving him an overall total of $256,612.