FORT PIERCE — The last campaign finance reports filed before Tuesday’s Fort Pierce special District 2 city commission election show more than $105,000 had been raised by the three candidates.
Candidate Donna Benton led the race for campaign cash, reporting $34,075 in contributions from 92 donors and another $5,325,15 in spending on her behalf from in-kind supporters who hosted campaign events or provided supplies.
Chris Dzadovsky’s report showed $32,724 collected in cash from 128 donors and $2,860.01 from in-kind contributors, while Jaimebeth Galinis reported $28,000 in cash from 108 donors, and another $2,122.39 in in-kind contributions to her campaign.
An analysis of the sources of the candidates’ contributors showed Dzadovsky received the majority of his campaign donations — 52 percent — from sources with addresses outside the City of Fort Pierce, notably Democrat Party organizations and state and federal labor union political action committees.
Reports show Dzadovsky received contributions from the Florida Democratic Party and the local Democratic Executive Committee.
In addition, he took in $1,000 donations from political action committees representing the Teamster’s, Electrical Workers and three Tallahassee-based firefighters’ unions.
Dzadovsky is a long-time Democrat, running successfully in the past as a partisan St. Lucie County commissioner.
Fort Pierce City Commission elections are non-partisan.
The latest campaign finance reports show both Benton and Galinis garnered about one-third of their donations from contributors with addresses outside of Fort Pierce.
Benton received funds including from her husband, Bob Benton, a former Fort Pierce mayor, and Friends of State Republican Rep. Dana Trabulsky. Ken Mascara, former St. Lucie County sheriff, provided $1,000 in food and beverages for a Benton campaign event.
Galinis made a personal loan to her campaign of $4,000 and received cash donations from former city commissioners Tom Perona and Jeremiah Johnson, and current District 2 Commissioner Michael Broderick and his wife.
Going into election day, Dzadovsky had spent the most of his campaign war chest, reporting expenditures thus far of $26,844.96, followed by Galinis at $18,707.34 and Benton, $18,347.03.
To see the full campaign finance reports filed so far, go online to https://www.voterfocus.com/CampaignFinance/candidate_pr.php?c=st.
Mail-in and early voting opportunities now are both closed. Ballots may still be cast Tuesday when polling places will be open at eight city precincts from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m..
If no single candidate garners more than 50 percent of the primary election vote, a runoff election will take place Jan.13. However, if a single candidate does get at least 50 percent plus one vote of those cast, that person will immediately win the commission seat, eliminating the need for another ballot in January.