HOLMES BEACH – The race to fill two commission seats and the mayoral seat on the dais is underway in Anna Maria Island’s largest city. Though the election is still months away on Nov. 5, candidates are already raising money for their campaigns.
COMMISSION CANDIDATES
In the race to fill the two city commission seats up for grabs, former Holmes Beach commissioner and mayor and former Manatee County commissioner Carol Whitmore is leading the pack in fundraising with a total of $3,355.80 raised as of press time for The Sun. Some of her notable backers include former Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Michael Bennett, former Manatee County Administrator Cheri Coryea, Manatee County District 3 Commission candidate Tal Siddique, Island Realtor Darcie Duncan, and long-time Anna Maria former resident and philanthropist Bob Carter. Whitmore is her own largest contributor, loaning $1,200 to her campaign fund with $823.86 in expenditures, the bulk of that for signs.
Holmes Beach Planning Commissioner and city commission candidate Steve Oelfke comes in second in fundraising with $725 in financial contributions and $3 in-kind contributions. In addition to the $600 he loaned his campaign, Oelfke has received the financial support of Holmes Beach Commissioners Terry Schaefer and Carol Soustek. His $83.80 in expenses went to qualifying and bank fees.
Incumbent candidate Commissioner Dan Diggins has raised $400 with support from Schaefer and resident Richard Motzer, along with a $200 loan from himself. His $80.80 expenditures all went to the qualifying fee to run for office.
Candidate Bill Romberger’s $300 in contributions come solely from a loan to his campaign with the only expenditure being the $80.80 qualifying fee.
MAYORAL CANDIDATES
Incumbent Mayor Judy Titsworth has raised $6,150 for her campaign with $1,598.33 in expenditures. Her campaign financial reports show significant support from Holmes Beach Commissioner Greg Kerchner, Commissioner Pat Morton and local veterinarian William Bystrom, as well as a $1,000 loan to her campaign.
Her strongest supporters with a combined $3,000 in donations are Island businesses Island Bazaar, Fish Hole and Bridge Street Bazaar, all owned by former Bradenton Beach Commissioner Jake Spooner and his family. In a talk with The Sun, Titsworth said that while Spooner hasn’t financially supported her campaigns in the past, she’s grateful for the monetary support to help further her campaign on the platforms of fighting against overdevelopment and government overreach on the Island. Her primary expenditures have been for a campaign website and signs.
Her opponent, political newcomer Mike Roth, has raised $2,958.50 in campaign contributions with $377.06 in expenditures, primarily for website services and door tags. His primary contributors are Holmes Beach resident and consultant John Reed, Tampa marketing business owner James Hug and Holmes Beach resident Thomas Rushmore.
