Evers Leads Senate Race Dollars By Large Margin

January 13, 2010

senate2.jpg

If dollars were votes and today was election day, Greg Evers would win the Florida Senate District 2 race by a landslide. The latest campaign finance reports are in, and Evers has raised more than twice the dollars than the other two candidates in the race combined.

district2map.jpgTwo House members are hoping to move up the Senate chambers to fill the seat being vacated by Rep. Durell Peaden. With 10 years in the Senate, Peaden is not running again due to term limits. Republican Reps. Greg Evers and Dave Murzin are in the race, as is  Walter “Mike” Hill, a Pensacola insurance agent. There could be more candidates in the race by election day; qualifying does not end for several more months.

Evers has raised $217,730.81 to date. Murzin’s campaign war chest has seen $75,938.99 in contributions, and Hill has raised $32,260. The numbers are current as of campaign finance reports due December 31.

But there’s more than raising the most money in a political campaign, Murzin said.

“While money is certainly a factor in any political campaign, having more money than other more qualified candidates is not the deciding factor.  Plenty of races both locally and on the state level have been won by hard work and personal interaction with the voters.  That is where I am putting my efforts,” Murzin said. “Money buys slick tv ads, fancy pieces of mail and one way communication but I learn more about what is important to my neighbors being at Frans Diner.”

“In these tough economic times, I have been focusing on turning our economy around, getting people back to work and dealing with issues that hurt our small businesses, like unemployment compensation tax increases.  I have not had the free time to call people and hit them up for cash,” he said.

As of December 31, Evers had spent $26,586.26 on his campaign. During the last quarter of the year, his largest expenditures were $5,050 on web services, $5,000 to a Tallahassee consultant, $1,005 for campaign shirts and $1,000 to McGuire’s Irish Pub for a fund raising event.

Murzin has spent $24,457.93 so far on his campaign, about one-third of his contributions. His only large expenditures during the last quarter of the year were $2,400 to EMRI for an advertisement and campaign expense reimbursements to himself for $522, $976.91 and $389.25.

Hill’s expenditures during the final three months of 2009 were $24,457.93 including $2,183 to a Tallahassee campaign consultant and $340.80 to Sprint Wireless for a phone.

A state senator in Florida is paid about $30,000 a year.

For Greg Evers’ campaign finance activity report, click here (pdf).
For Dave Murzin’s campaign finance activity report, click here (pdf).
For Mike Hill’s campaign finance activity report, click here (pdf).

NorthEscambia.com graphics, click to enlarge.

Comments

16 Responses to “Evers Leads Senate Race Dollars By Large Margin”

  1. Laura Cook on January 16th, 2010 10:55 pm

    I thing one term in any office is enough. If you think differently, look at the candidates “big business” contrtributions. Doesn’t that tell you something. Why would they give large donations without something in return.

  2. A Watchman on January 15th, 2010 6:43 am

    Bob said, “Man Mike you fly more than Jeff Miller and stay in alot better motels (ritz carlton) !!

    Well, at least he is not yet spending tax payer $ and doesn’t have a political party Gold Card- yet.

  3. A Watchman on January 15th, 2010 6:31 am

    ” a double-minded man is unstable in all his ways . . . “. Yes, head the legislative committee to introduce and pass (study & recommend) Consolidation (saying “I had to do it”), then when the wind changes, make public statements against it and privately support it. Now who would do (did) that??? At least the county commissioners TRY to apologize when they break the law.

    I would EXPECT a legislator to correct a bad law and to try to help a constituent with a problem; but I also want elected officiasl with CHACTER – not “a chacter” for an elected official. Their is a difference. Money don’t buy my vote.

  4. Billy on January 14th, 2010 5:23 pm

    For better or worse – probably worse – it takes money to run campaigns. But I don’t fault Evers for working hard to raise money. He has been a real good representative for us. He hasn’t been afraid to stand up with and for us but he never acts different from when he first got there. He and his office helped my family out with FDOT when we were having real problems with flooding from the highway in front of our house. I have never had any “politician-talk” from Greg. He’s still just Greg. And that is why I will support him 100% for whatever he wants to do. I wish I had the money to contribute to help him. But he has my vote and my full support. That’s for sure. I don’t know why he would want to keep doing this with all the nasty things people who don’t even seem to know him put on these websites. But I sure am glad he does. You go, Greg! We’re with you all the way.

  5. A Watchman on January 14th, 2010 6:33 am

    Yes! It IS TIME for professioal politicians to be ousted; both Evers & Murzin need to go. Term limits doesn’t mean “musical move up a notch”. My vote will go for the other guy or the orphan Donkey!

  6. Me! on January 13th, 2010 6:23 pm

    I guess introducing consolidation legislation for Escambia County has payed off for Greg. I guess now I have a better understanding of his motive. I guess we need to remember the Golden Rule. The people with the gold, makes the rules. I am still going to vote against Greg and try to convince as many others as I can to do the same.

  7. bob hill on January 13th, 2010 1:39 pm

    It takes a lot of money to run in seven countys. Man Mike you fly more than Jeff Miller and stay in alot better motels (ritz carlton) !!!!!You should be running against obama man hug charlie and Mr.Rubio for senate…..

  8. Susan Davis on January 13th, 2010 11:35 am

    Evers a lock on the money train? I thought Murzin was the one that like multi-million dollar trains!

  9. Oversight on January 13th, 2010 10:21 am

    For a good ‘ol boy, back woods farmer from Baker, Evers seems to have a lock on the money train from Miami and the other South Florida big urban areas. All the more reason not to vote for him!

  10. Mark on January 13th, 2010 9:09 am

    Looked at those reports. Very little money comes from local people. So much comes from big business and political groups.

    **BIG SALE***
    FLORIDA LEGISLATORS FOR SALE TODAY!!!

  11. William on January 13th, 2010 9:00 am

    I added the campaign finance reports for each candidate to the story above. Click the links to see the reports in pdf format. The contributions are first, followed by the expenditures. The reports show the name and address and everyone that contributed and where every dollar was spent.

    – William

  12. Just Sayin About Evers on January 13th, 2010 8:44 am

    Evers always seems to pro-farmer. That’s not bad, but there’s a lot more to our district than farming. Protecting the farmer does not always protect the average citizen. Farmers do very much need to be protected, but Evers does not need to ignore the common man that is not a farmer. Everytime you see a picture of Evers, he is hold a gun or standing by a tractor. Good ole boy is right!

  13. Roll Tide on January 13th, 2010 8:42 am

    The good ole boys always raise the most dough, but good ole boys are not always bad. Where did Evers get all of that money? I don’t think it came out of north Escambia and Santa Rosa. Probably big business. What about Murzin & the other dude? Where id their money come from?

  14. Jimmy on January 13th, 2010 7:56 am

    Who really cares?
    Why didn’t you interview Greg?
    Greg’s ahead because he’s a true conservative, anti-tax Republican who opposed the Murzin/Crist choo-choo train in Orlando-all we get is the bills!
    Greg’s got a lot of support because we’ve known him for a long time and his record is an honest one.

  15. bob hill on January 13th, 2010 6:50 am

    Yep murz your are into them jobs allright but who is going to orlando to get them. Remember your train we do!!!! Tell us where this helps this area job loss or lack of good roads. You will get the money where you allways get it from the pac’s! Remember (csx big republican donor) will give you lots of money above and below the table to play with…… But them jobs belongs to AFL__CIO so you will have to join the union to get a job,Thats the way you got the dems vote. Thats what I call a bipartison
    bill, something for every body..

  16. SW on January 13th, 2010 6:43 am

    I”m sorry, but why in the world would someone spend that much money on a job that only pays $30k/yr? 1) Real desire to to something good for the community; or 2) Real desire for power over the community. Forgive me, but while #1 sounds honorable, but #2 sounds more likely.

    Too many people vote name recognition. Please vote issues and understand what each candidate stands for.

    I know it sounds like throwing the baby out with the bath water, but maybe it’s time to vote out incumbents to re-establish who’s boss in politics-We The People!

    Shouldn’t the time of the professional politician should come to an end?

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News