Money flows into North Florida House race

BY THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

With state Rep. Keith Perry, R-Gainesville, running for the Senate this year, the race to replace him could become a big-dollar campaign. Alachua Republican Wenda Lewis raised $33,026 in March, bringing her overall total to $68,926, according to newly filed finance reports. Lewis also loaned $100,000 to her campaign in February and had spent a total of $21,088 as of March 31. Meanwhile, Newberry Republican Charles Clemons raised $29,780 in March, bringing his overall total to $65,775, the reports on the state Division of Elections website show. Clemons had spent $8,146 as of March 31. Lewis, Clemons and two other candidates are running in House District 21, which includes Dixie, Gilchrist and part of Alachua counties. Another candidate in the race, Newberry Republican Timothy Rogers, had raised $1,950 as of March 31, while Democrat Marihelen Wheeler had raised $1,190, the reports show.