Former federal prosector Andrew Warren, a Democrat who is taking on longtime incumbent Hillsborough County State Attorney Mark Ober this fall, had another strong month of fundraising in February, raising more than $30,000.
“I’m humbled and inspired to have the support of so many people who share my dedication to safety and justice for Hillsborough residents” Warren said in a statement. “We can’t be afraid to take on the hard cases and challenges that face our community. Voters want someone with the dedication and enthusiasm to fight for them.”
In the two months since he became a candidate, Warren has raised more than $80,000 in the contest. That’s still below Ober’s total of $138,935, though Warren only began fundraising in January, whereas Ober began three months earlier.
The GOP incumbent raised $18,300 in February.
“We’re talking to people about the issues,” Warren said on Saturday, where he visited shook hands and met with citizens who had gathered in the V.M. Ybor City area of Tampa for a protest against the Tampa Bay Express project.
“We’re making sure that people understand that the State Attorney’s job is to prosecute crimes that keep us safe and to apply the law equally and fairly,” he said. “There’s a lot of frustration in the community because that hasn’t been happening in the State Attorney’s office for awhile, and there’s a lot of change that’s desired. “
Ober has been State Attorney in Hillsborough County for 16 years, having first been elected in 2000. Rarely has there been a serious Democratic challenger to his rule since that time. Warren’s fundraising totals indicates he could be serious.
“What we’re looking for is safety, fairness and justice,” Warren said on Saturday. “Those are the objectives of any prosecutor’s office.”
