House Seat 111: Representing parts of Miami-Dade, Rep. Erik Fresen, R-Miami, appears in solid shape to win another term. Still, Fresen has been burning through his campaign cash -- spending almost $64,000 of the more than $82,000 that he raised. This should not be a concern for the moment as his only challenger is Democrat Christina Albright. Albright loaned her campaign $4,000 and had spent more than $2,000 of that by the end of July, but she has not raised any other money.
House Seat 112: With Rep. David Rivera, R-Miami, running for Congress, three Republicans, two Democrats and an independent are gunning for this seat covering parts of Broward, Collier and Miami-Dade counties. Having raised almost $213,000 and spent more than $77,000, Jeanette Nunez, a medical administrator who served as chief of staff to Alex Diaz de la Portilla, is the heavy favorite for the Republican nomination. The rest of the Republican field has had problems raising money. Republican activist and teacher Juan DArce raised more than $19,000 and spent more than $13,000. Businessman and retired Marine officer James Patrick Guerrero has had even less success in raising money, bringing in less than $2,000 in contributions. Doral City Councilwoman Sandra Ruiz is in the middle of a legal fight as to whether her name will remain on the ballot. Ruiz raised more than $52,000 and spent almost $28,000. Looking to defeat Ruiz for the Democratic nod is business owner Johnny Farias, who raised more than $14,000 but spent almost every cent of it. Independent Robert Van Name will be waiting for whoever emerges in the Republican and Democratic primaries. Unless something drastic happens, this appears to be Nunezs race to lose.
House Seat 113: There are some intriguing battles for House seats in Miami-Dade but this is not one of them. Having raised almost $104,000 and loaned his campaign $100,000, Rep. Carlos Lopez-Cantera, R-Miami, is a very heavy favorite over Democratic candidate Alex Cruzet, who has raised less than $2,000, and independent Waldo Faura who raised less than $5,300.
House Seat 114: With Rep. Anitere Flores, R-Miami, running for the Senate, Miami-Dade County School Board member Ana Rivas Logan has the Republican nomination. She has compiled a solid war chest, bringing in almost $72,000 and spending more than $40,000. Millie Herrera, a businesswoman who served on the Kendall City Council, is the favorite to win the Democratic nomination but, with around $20,000 on-hand at the end of the July, she needs to raise more funds to challenge Logan. Bob Blanco is opposing Herrera for the Democratic nod but he has had problems raising money, bringing in less than $5,000. Denny Wood is running in the race without party affiliation.
House Seat 115: With Rep. J. C. Planas, R-Miami/Westchester, facing term limits, three very strong candidates are running to replace him. Republican attorney Jose Felix Diaz has raised almost $262,000 in donations and spent more than $181,000 in the race so far. He faces a serious challenge for the Republican nomination from Carla Ascencio-Savola, who served on the Kendall Community Council and ran for the seat back in 2006. Ascencio-Silva has gathered almost $90,000 in donations and has taken $30,000 in loans to the campaign. Her campaign spent more than $67,000. There is also a strong Democratic candidate in the race. Dr. Jeffrey Solomon, a chiropractor and small-business man, has brought in more than $112,000 and spent more than $64,000 in the race. Christopher Blau is running as the TEA Party candidate. The battles in the Republican primary and the general election command attention.
