07-21-2007, 04:16 PM
From the latest Independent News:
THE BUZZ | Vol. 8, No. 29, July 19, 2007
(Pensacola A Growing City)
STICK 'EM UP Escambia County Sheriff Ron McNesby is well on his way to surpassing the fundraising mark he hit in his 2004 campaign—$234,066.
One of largest campaign chests for a local race on record, McNesby is on pace to pass it in his bid for a third term with $102,325 to his name with about 16 months left until the 2008 election, according to recently released second quarter campaign finance records.
McNesby is far outpacing his challengers in fundraising. David Morgan, who failed in his bid to unseat McNesby in '04, had raised $17,899 through June 30.
In fact, no one in any other race comes close to collecting money like the Republican Sheriff. Escambia County Commission District 1 candidate Wilson Robertson has $32,800 at his disposal so far in his bid to regain his seat from Commissioner Mike Whitehead ($600). And District 5 Commissioner Kevin White, who's currently running unopposed, has raised $30,425.
However, after kicking off his campaign with a $52,000 burst last year, the Sheriff's fundraising has slacked off. The latest reporting period, which was for the second quarter of 2007 from April to June, saw McNesby bring in $11,867. Most of it—$4,500—came from partners and their wives in the Levin Papantonio law firm.
Meanwhile, Republican challenger Morgan raised $3,836 mostly from $20 and $40 individual contributions and spent $5,153. Morgan's expenditures went to advertising: $4,000 to the Reality News Network run by David Craig and $150 to the Marcus Pointe Baptist Church.
Samuel Lucas, a Democrat in the Sheriff's race, raised no money in the second quarter and has $2,203 in funds.
BACK AT THE RANCH Meanwhile, Sheriff McNesby is drawing plenty of people who want his job.
In 2004, the rough-and-tumble field included three Republicans and two Democrats. This year, there are two Republicans and two Democrats, so far.
The latest entry is Democrat Larry Scapecchi, a recently retired 25-year veteran of the Escambia County Sheriff's Office. Scapecchi, a former lieutenant, was a correctional officer, investigator and supervised the narcotics division among other duties in his career.
Scapecchi, who owns a building and roofing company, says several factors convinced him to come out of retirement recently and try his hand at running for office for the first time.
The chief one?
"First and foremost I am of the belief that the person holding this office should be a person of integrity," he tells The Buzz. "I truly believe that the people of Escambia County deserve it and should expect it. We are compelled to make a change."
Although, Scapecchi won't say directly that McNesby lacks integrity, he claims the morale of Sheriff's Office deputies are at an "all-time low" and says McNesby cares more about politics than policing.
The 44-year-old Scapecchi says he will implement more deputy training and bring back more proactive community policing.
"I'm a little nervous getting in politics, sure," he says. "But you have to be a Sheriff first and politics have to come second. I'm looking forward to getting into it."
Meanwhile, one political consultant says McNesby will be hard to beat. "He's been tough on deputies misbehaving, Brownsville was a big wet sloppy PR kiss for him, and Morgan just seems angry."
THE BUZZ | Vol. 8, No. 29, July 19, 2007
(Pensacola A Growing City)
STICK 'EM UP Escambia County Sheriff Ron McNesby is well on his way to surpassing the fundraising mark he hit in his 2004 campaign—$234,066.
One of largest campaign chests for a local race on record, McNesby is on pace to pass it in his bid for a third term with $102,325 to his name with about 16 months left until the 2008 election, according to recently released second quarter campaign finance records.
McNesby is far outpacing his challengers in fundraising. David Morgan, who failed in his bid to unseat McNesby in '04, had raised $17,899 through June 30.
In fact, no one in any other race comes close to collecting money like the Republican Sheriff. Escambia County Commission District 1 candidate Wilson Robertson has $32,800 at his disposal so far in his bid to regain his seat from Commissioner Mike Whitehead ($600). And District 5 Commissioner Kevin White, who's currently running unopposed, has raised $30,425.
However, after kicking off his campaign with a $52,000 burst last year, the Sheriff's fundraising has slacked off. The latest reporting period, which was for the second quarter of 2007 from April to June, saw McNesby bring in $11,867. Most of it—$4,500—came from partners and their wives in the Levin Papantonio law firm.
Meanwhile, Republican challenger Morgan raised $3,836 mostly from $20 and $40 individual contributions and spent $5,153. Morgan's expenditures went to advertising: $4,000 to the Reality News Network run by David Craig and $150 to the Marcus Pointe Baptist Church.
Samuel Lucas, a Democrat in the Sheriff's race, raised no money in the second quarter and has $2,203 in funds.
BACK AT THE RANCH Meanwhile, Sheriff McNesby is drawing plenty of people who want his job.
In 2004, the rough-and-tumble field included three Republicans and two Democrats. This year, there are two Republicans and two Democrats, so far.
The latest entry is Democrat Larry Scapecchi, a recently retired 25-year veteran of the Escambia County Sheriff's Office. Scapecchi, a former lieutenant, was a correctional officer, investigator and supervised the narcotics division among other duties in his career.
Scapecchi, who owns a building and roofing company, says several factors convinced him to come out of retirement recently and try his hand at running for office for the first time.
The chief one?
"First and foremost I am of the belief that the person holding this office should be a person of integrity," he tells The Buzz. "I truly believe that the people of Escambia County deserve it and should expect it. We are compelled to make a change."
Although, Scapecchi won't say directly that McNesby lacks integrity, he claims the morale of Sheriff's Office deputies are at an "all-time low" and says McNesby cares more about politics than policing.
The 44-year-old Scapecchi says he will implement more deputy training and bring back more proactive community policing.
"I'm a little nervous getting in politics, sure," he says. "But you have to be a Sheriff first and politics have to come second. I'm looking forward to getting into it."
Meanwhile, one political consultant says McNesby will be hard to beat. "He's been tough on deputies misbehaving, Brownsville was a big wet sloppy PR kiss for him, and Morgan just seems angry."