Florida House hopeful John Hugh Shannon posted another solid fundraising month in May by adding $22,010 for the race for House District 40, just under three times the amount raised by GOP primary opponent Colleen Burton.
The Lakeland attorney and Marine Corps veteran now has a total of $79,435, and after spending $11,118 to date, now has more than $68,300 cash on hand.
Burton, a former executive director for Polk Vision, raised only $7,899 last month โ including $5,049 in contributions from the candidate herself โ for a total of $106,100. Although that may appear to be a reliably solid number, when taking in account a total of $29,517 spent to date, she is left with $76,583 on hand, less than $8,300 ahead of Shannon. Her shrinking lead, as well as a substantial cash boost from her own pocket, shows a flattening out of the substantial head start she had through last year, when she was running unopposed.
John Hugh Shannon is running, as a Republican, to replace term-limited Rep. Seth McKeel for the seat covering much of Polk County. ย The winner of the August 26 GOP primary faces Democrat Ricky Shirah and American Independent Party candidate Franklin Shoemaker, who only raised $300 last month.
