Chris Latvala keeps momentum for HD 67 run with $154K raised to date

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Chris Latvala is keeping his strong funding momentum going, as the Florida House District 67 hopeful posts another $18,850 in February.

The Largo Republican has collected an impressive $154,160 to date in his attempt to replace term-limited GOP state Rep. Ed Hooper for the area covering northeast Pinellas County. Latvala previously served as Hooper’s legislative aide.

Latvala also has more than $132,000 cash-on-hand.

Among the backers for the first-time House candidate, whose father is Republican state Sen. Jack Latvala, are an extensive list of lobbying groups, consultants and political action committees.

Organizations giving $1,000 checks to Latvala’s campaign last month: Florida Credit Union Political Action Committee, the Tallahassee law firm of Jack M. Skelding, PACs for the Florida Home Builders Association, Florida Health Care, Florida Medical Association and the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Assoc., and the Sunshine State Leadership Fund. The Florida Retail Federation also gave $1,000 combined, half from its PAC and the other from the FRF Beauty Industry Council.

In addition to the groundswell of support from government relations and health-care groups, a number of gambling interests have donated $500 each in February, including Gulfstream Park, GPRA Thoroughbred Training Center, and the Southern Florida Greyhound Association. The Tampa Bay Greyhound Association also gave $400. 

Latvala’s two active GOP opponents have neither his strength nor any fundraising proficiency, according to DOE figures; Christopher Shepard raised just $100 last month, and Frederick Thompson filed a waiver of report.

Phil Ammann is a St. Petersburg-based journalist and blogger. With more than three decades of writing, editing and management experience, Phil produced material for both print and online, in addition to founding HRNewsDaily.com. His broad range includes covering news, local government and culture reviews for Patch.com, technical articles and profiles for BetterRVing Magazine and advice columns for a metaphysical website, among others. Phil has served as a contributor and production manager for SaintPetersBlog since 2013. He lives in St. Pete with his wife, visual artist Margaret Juul and can be reached at [email protected] and on Twitter @PhilAmmann.