Mark Ober has been the only State Attorney that Hillsborough County residents have known over the past 16 years. In that time, he’s rarely faced a serious opponent.
That might be different this year, as former federal prosecutor Andrew Warren has been active in terms of fundraising.
Ober is now looking to equalize that, however, and he’s planning a major fundraiser next Tuesday night, March 22, at the Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City.
The establishment is behind Ober, big-time.
Attorney General Pam Bondi (a former colleague of Ober’s), Hillsborough County Sheriff David Gee, former Tampa Mayor Dick Greco and the past three former Tampa Chiefs of Police – Jane Castor, Steve Hogue and Bennie Holder, are all listed on the invite as “honorary hosts” for the event.
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.