April Thanos is taking her bid for Gulfport City Council serious. The political newcomer loaned herself $3,000 in her bid to unseat incumbent Ward 1 councilman Dan Liedtke.
On top of that loan, Thanos brought in $2,746 in contributions from a combination of Pinellas County residents, Gulfport residents and out-of-towners. Her biggest contribution came from the Florida Voters Fund political committee. That committee is affiliated with the company managing Thanos’ campaign.
The Gulfport Democratic Club kicked in $300 and the Greater Pinellas Democratic Funds gave $100.
Meanwhile, Liedtke also loaned some cash to his campaign. He spent $490 of his own money on postage. Liedtke only brought in $750 in contributions this report. Those came from three Gulfport contributors – $500 from the Gulfport company Complex Properties and $150 and $100 respectively from Gulfport residents George Munson and Barbie Bauman.
Liedtke has raised just more than $3,100 to date compared to Thanos’s whopping-by-comparison $11,850. However, Liedtke has more cash on hand. He’s got a little more than $1,000 while Thanos has a little less than $1,000.
She spent more than $7,000 this report with most of that cash flooding out to Mad Dog Mail for mailers and palm cards. Another $325 went to the Gulfport Gabber for advertising.
The latest fundraising numbers cover February 1 though February 12. The two are in their final weeks of campaigning. Election Day is March 15, the same day as the Presidential Preference Primary. The race will appear on all voters’ ballots in Gulfport regardless of party affiliation and even though third party and no-party affiliation voters can’t vote in the presidential primary, those voters can cast a ballot in the municipal race.
Mayor Sam Henderson is also facing a challenger this election. He’s running against Gulfport business owner Barbara Banno.
