Early voting continues in Charlotte County. Many candidate campaigns relied on funding from supporters, both individual and large groups.
SUN PHOTO BY NICOLE DROEGER
PORT CHARLOTTE — If elections were decided solely by how much money candidates raise, the race for the Charlotte County Commission District 4 seat would be over.
Fortunately for No Party Affiliation County Commission candidate Michael Melton, it doesn’t work that way.
Kim Amontree, his Republican opponent for that District 4 seat, has a more than 11-1 edge in money raised with a bankroll of $280,285 in campaign contributions. Melton, a first-time candidate for office who said his team is working hard to overcome the discrepancy in money, has raised $18,206.
The story is similar in the Punta Gorda District 4 City Council race where incumbent Janis Denton has collected less than half the amount of her challenger, Gary Butler.
Florida law requires a designated campaign treasurer to file regular reports of all contributions received as well as money spent.
A look into campaign finance reports shows which individuals, businesses and PACs contributed to candidates.
Charlotte County Commission District 4
Kim Amontree
PHOTO PROVIDED BY KIM AMONTREE
Kim Amontree
According to finance reports, Amontree’s campaign received a total of $280,285 in contributions as of Oct. 2.
Melton’s currently at $18,206.
A majority of Amontree’s campaign contributions were before the primary election on Aug. 18. Over $150,000 was contributed between April and June 2025.
Notable businesses that contributed during this time period were:
Goldman, Tiseo & Sturges, P.A., $1,000Christopher G. Constance MD, $1,000The Nix Team Companies, LLC, $1,000Florida Premier Contractors, $1,000DMK Associates, $1,000Key Agency, Inc., $1,000
Both Joseph Tiseo and Christopher Constance are current county commissioners, although Constance’s time will end in November after losing in the August primary.
Political committees include:
South County Conservatives, $1,000Florida Prosper, $1,000Friends of Amira Fox, $1,000Suncoast Professional Firefighters & Paramedics Charitable Foundation, $1,000FPF Fire PC, $1,000
The Truex Family Trust donated twice for a total of $1,500. Bill Truex is a current county commissioner.
Danny Nix Jr., a state representative seeking reelection, donated $1,000
Amontree also donated $25,000 to her own campaign.
After the primary election, Amontree received contributions from Ambitrans Medical Transport ($1,000) and the Local Home Builders PAC ($500). Ambitrans is owned by former state official Mike Grant, with his daughter, Florida Rep. Vanessa Oliver, listed as the CEO and vice president of the company.
Bill Truex is a vice chair of the Local Home Builders PAC.
Michael Melton
PHOTO PROVIDED BY MICHAEL MELTON
Michael Melton
Melton’s campaign relies primarily on individual contributions rather than businesses or political committees.
The largest donation was Melton’s own contribution of $5,000 on July 13 of this year.
Since the primary election, Melton received $6,419 for his campaign.
A notable contributor is real estate owner Brian Faro. He initially donated to Amontree’s campaign in 2025 but switched to Melton in 2026.
“I was invited to a fundraising event for her and initially made a contribution off my understanding of her character and intent in this position,” Faro said. “As I dug further, I realized that many of her backers had similar interests and control tactics in supporting her. The more I looked at candidate options and got to know her opponent, the more I built my confidence in the person Michael Melton is.”
Punta Gorda City
Council District 1
Jeannine Polk
PHOTO PROVIDED
Jeannine Polk
Running for reelection in the nonpartisan race, Polk’s campaign received a total of $13,938 as of Oct. 22.
Business contributions come from John Joiner Insurance Agency ($514), Renaissance Homes ($300) and Polk & Associates ($526).
Political committee Firefighters and Paramedics for Public Safety contributed $1,000.
Polk loaned a total of $1,000 to her campaign.
George Williamson
PHOTO COURTESY OF GEORGE WILLIAMSON
George Williamson
Running against Polk, Williamson’s campaign collected over twice the amount of contributions with a current total of $32,391. He has the most money behind a city council candidate.
Similar to Amontree’s campaign, a lot of funding comes from businesses. Notable ones include:
Base 1 Construction Services LLC, $750Waterside Recycling LLC, $1,000Florida Premier Contracting, $750Boyette & Miller Construction & Development, Inc., $1,000Laishley Crab House, $1,000
Williamson received political committee contributions from the Local Home Builders PAC ($500), Realtors Political Advocacy Committee ($1,000) and Friends of Kim Amontree ($300).
Two trusts gave money: Thomas Living Trust ($200) and Sankey E. Webb Family Revocable Trust III ($150).
Local businessman Bruce Laishley contributed $500.
Punta Gorda City Council District 4
Janis Denton
SUN PHOTO BY NICOLE DROEGER
Janis Denton
Similar to Polk, Denton is running for reelection, and she primarily received funding from individual contributions rather than businesses or groups.
As of Oct. 20, Denton has $10,625 in campaign contributions, the lowest amount for local elections.
Only two businesses contributed: Bent Nail Holdings ($1,000) and Vic Lewis & Sons Auctioneers ($1,000).
Denton contributed two loans to her campaign totaling $220.
Gary Butler
SUN PHOTO BY NICOLE DROEGER
Gary Butler
Butler’s campaign is funded from a mix of individuals, businesses and political committees. As of Oct. 21, his campaign collected $27,126.
Like Williamson, businessman Bruce Laishley contributed to Butler’s campaign, giving a total of $1,500 in catering and sales.
Two other notable Punta Gorda figures who contributed are Isaac James, executive director at the Military Heritage Museum, and Lynne Matthews, former city mayor.
Business contributions include:
Base 1 Construction Services, LLC, $750Florida Premier Contractors, $750Saw Palmetto Corp, $500The Meridian at Punta Gorda Isles, $1,000Boyette & Miller, $1,000
Two political committees contributed: Fire Fighters & Paramedics for Public Safety ($1,000) and Realtors Political Advocacy Committee ($1,000).
Butler loaned himself $1,015 for his campaign.