{"id":240941,"date":"2026-04-21T21:38:07","date_gmt":"2026-04-21T21:38:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/240941\/"},"modified":"2026-04-21T21:38:07","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T21:38:07","slug":"three-tallahassee-mayoral-candidates-pull-in-bulk-of-campaign-contributions-in-first-quarter-of-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/240941\/","title":{"rendered":"Three Tallahassee mayoral candidates pull in bulk of campaign contributions in first quarter of year"},"content":{"rendered":"

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – A competitive fundraising battle is unfolding in the City of Tallahassee\u2019s mayoral race<\/a>, with three of the candidates pulling in the bulk of campaign contributions in the first quarter of the year.<\/p>\n

Recently released campaign finance reports show that State Senator Loranne Ausley and candidate Daryl Parks have both raised more than $80,000, while Tallahassee City Commissioner Jeremy Matlow brought in about $38,000 thus far. <\/p>\n

Candidate Michael Foust raised the least, just $600. However, he says he\u2019s glad to be free of the \u201ctransactional\u201d feel of politics.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m trying to dispel with a presence, and you can\u2019t do that with money,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd there\u2019s no reason for us to all be screaming at each other and fighting.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite Matlow trailing in total dollars, he has drawn contributions from roughly twice as many donors as his competitors, with the average donation hovering around $50 and most support coming from within Leon County, according to Dr. Lonna Atkeson, Education and Political Science & Director of the LeRoy Collins Institute.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you were just going off the money, then you\u2019d say that it\u2019s a two-person race. But I think that we can\u2019t set aside Matlow at this point just because he doesn\u2019t have as much money, because he\u2019s still raising it from twice as many people,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

More Tallahassee News<\/p>\n

Matlow echoed the sentiment and said his campaign has accumulated 1,000 individual donors in Tallahassee. <\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what we really want to build on,\u201d Matlow said. \u201cThose are folks that not just donate, but they can actually vote in these elections.\u201d<\/p>\n

By contrast, Parks raised the most last quarter, over $84,000. But, a majority of the money came from outside of city limits. WCTV reached out to Parks for a statement, but has not heard back as of Tuesday afternoon.<\/p>\n

Candidate Ausley followed right behind Parks, hauling in just over $80,000, with over 80% coming from inside city limits. WCTV also reached out to Ausley, but has not heard back as of Tuesday afternoon. <\/p>\n

Former Wakulla County Commissioner Dr. Howard Kessler indicated that fundraising remains a key component in local races.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe reality of it now is that candidates who do not raise sufficient campaign funds are not taken seriously. And that doesn\u2019t mean that they\u2019re lesser of a candidate and the principles that they stand for are any lesser or more,\u201d Kessler said.<\/p>\n

Tune in to Eyewitness News at 5 and 6 for the full story. This story will be updated this evening with full details.<\/p>\n

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