Open Hillsborough House seats draw campaign cash

BY THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

Races to replace outgoing House Majority Leader Dana Young, R-Tampa, and Rep. Ed Narain, D-Tampa, drew more than $140,000 in cash and candidate loans during March, newly filed finance reports show. Tampa Republican Rebecca Smith, who is seeking to replace Young in House District 60, pulled in $81,703 during the month, her first in the race. Her GOP primary opponent, Jackie Toledo, raised $10,402 during the month and also loaned $25,000 to the campaign. Toledo had raised an overall total of $50,012 in contributions as of March 31, while spending a total of $10,409, the reports show. Meanwhile, in nearby House District 61, Tampa Democrat Sean Shaw raised $21,493 during March, his first month in the race to replace Narain. Shaw's primary opponent, Dianne Hart, raised $2,386 and loaned $1,500 to her campaign. Young and Narain are leaving the seats to run for the Senate this year.