Republican Hillsborough County Commission candidate Rick Cochran outpaced his three opponents with almost $15,000 in fundraising during the third quarter, according to county election records.
Cochran, a former Tampa police detective and senior vice president of the city police union, raised $14,790 in contributions from July 1 to Sept. 30. This makes for a total take of $24,655 for Cochran’s County District 4 campaign.
In the third quarter, Cochran also spent more far more than his competition — $5,201— mostly on consulting fees and web design.
“I am incredibly grateful for and humbled by the outpouring of support from the community and the enthusiasm for my candidacy,” Cochran said in a statement announcing the campaign filing. “I work hard every day to live up to the confidence placed in me by these supporters, and I will do the same for the voters as well.”
During the same period, Republican Janet Lee Dougherty loaned her campaign $5000, and made no expenditures while fellow Republican Stacy White added $7,200, making his overall total $28,631. White spent $152.07. Democrat Donna Lee Fore also gave her campaign $1,064.
Not surprisingly, the retired detective is receiving strong support from law enforcement. Of the 59 total individual contributions, Cochran collected checks from 14 separate Police Benevolent Association Groups in the Central Florida area, for a total of $6,750. He also received a $500 check from the Florida Conservative Leadership Fund.
Cochran also has endorsements from State Rep. Dana Young, the Tampa Police Benevolent Association and Fraternal Order of Police.
District 4 represents southern and eastern Hillsborough County. Cochran is running to replace term-limited Commissioner Al Higginbotham, who is running for Hillsborough’s countywide District 7 seat held by Mark Sharpe, another term-limited Commissioner.
