Committee for a Stronger Florida, a newly formed political committee associated with outgoing Republican House Speaker Will Weatherford, received a quick boost of $425,000 from the Republican Party of Florida.
Created on July 9, the committee is chaired by Republican fundraiser Kris Money, who previously served as Weatherford’s deputy chief of staff and no longer works for the state.
“It’s a political committee that will be utilized to elect Republicans,” Weatherford told Matt Dixon of PoliticalFixFlorida in a text message.
The July 21 check from the RPOF is Stronger Florida’s only contribution so far. It has given $1,000 each to Gov. Rick Scott, and Hillsborough County Commission candidate Rick Cochran.
A $500 check also went to Maureen Ahern, the Pinellas County School Board candidate and wife of Republican state Rep. Larry Ahern.
Ahern faces Linda Lerner, the longest serving member of the PCSB.
Weatherford is leaving the House due to term limits, after overseeing the chamber for the past two legislative sessions. Technically, the Wesley Chapel Republican remains speaker until November.
Money, with fellow GOP fundraiser Trey McCarley, co-founded fundraising firm Florida Finance Strategies on May 6. The group has also been working with a political committee associated with state Rep. Dana Young.
Also on May 6, Money launched Capitol Finance Consulting, but Dixon notes that campaign finance records show the group has performed no political work as of yet.
