A heated GOP primary battle continues in House District 74 as Venice orthopedic surgeon Julio Gonzalez slightly edged out attorney Richard DeNapoli in April fundraising for the Southwest Florida race.
DeNapoli, a former treasurer and chair of the Broward Republican Party, posted $8,915 last month, for a total of $79,161 in the race for the region covering Osprey, Venice and parts of North Port and Englewood. Adding his $150,000 in loans, and expenditures just over $36,561, DeNapoli now has more than $192K cash-on-hand.
During the same period, Gonzales added $10,210 from April 1-30, bringing his total to $180,782. After more than $41,460 in expenditures, the doctor has $139,322 in his war chest.
DeNapoli is a Florida native who served as chair of the Broward Republican Executive Committee, where he established a reputation as a strong GOP fundraiser.
Gonzalez cited the Affordable Care Act and President Barack Obama’s reelection as reasons entered the race, calling the president’s reelection one of the most distressing times of his life, on a level with the terrorist attacks of 9/11.
