Richard DeNapoli and Julio Gonzalez Raise Serious Cash in Sarasota County House Race

The money is flowing into Sarasota County where two Republican candidates build up war chests as they prepare to battle it out for the Florida House seat currently held by Rep. Doug Holder, R-Sarasota.

Attorney Richard DeNapoli, who served on the Florida Real Estate Commission and chaired the Broward County GOP, entered the race back in August. In most of that month and all of September, he raised almost $32,400 and loaned his campaign $150,000. DeNapoli kept most of it in the bank, spending more than $3,200.

But DeNapoli has a major opponent in the primary in Dr. Julio Gonzalez, a veteran of the Navy Reserve who also served as the chief of staff at Venice Regional Center. In the third quarter, Gonzalez raised $41,900 and spent almost $5,900. Since entering the contest in November, Gonzalez has brought in more than $118,000 in donations and spent more than $12,600.