House Seat 71: Representing parts of Charlotte, Lee and Sarasota counties, Rep. Ken Roberson, R-Port Charlotte, appears headed for another term in the House. Roberson had around $39,000 in the bank at the end of July. Democratic candidate Andrew Saltman had less than $500 on hand. Unless something drastic happens, Roberson is a heavy favorite to win in November.
House Seat 72: Drawing no opposition in his bid for re-election, Rep Paige Kreegel, R-Punta Gorda, will have another two years in the House to represent all of DeSoto County and parts of Charlotte and Lee counties.
House Seat 73: With Rep. Nick Thompson, R-Fort Myers, retiring, four Republicans, a Democrat and a TEA Party candidate have jumped in the race for this seat which represents parts of Lee County. Health-care administrator and attorney Jason Moon leads the Republican pack. Moon raised almost $107,000 and loaned his campaign $20,0000. At the end of July, he had spent more than $85,000, leaving around $42,000 in the bank. John Schultz, a retired Florida police officer who served as security for Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp, jumped in the race late but managed to raise more than $35,000 and keep $16,000 on hand at the end of July. There are two other candidates in the Republican race who had less than $10,000 in the bank. Real estate appraiser Matt Caldwell raised more than $24,000 but had spent $17,000 by the end of July. Deanna Casalino is also running but she has lagged behind in terms of fund-raising, bringing in less than $5,000 and spending almost every penny she raised. Its an interesting primary contest but Moon should prevail. The Republican nominee will take on businessman Cole Peacock who had around $33,000 on hand at the end of July. Democrats are high on Peacocks chances -- especially with TEA Party candidate Raul Ismael Pantoja Rodriguez in the race.
House Seat 74: Representing parts of Charlotte and Lee counties, Rep. Gary Aubuchon, R-Cape Coral, is headed back to Tallahassee. He is the only candidate in the race.
House Seat 75: Rep. Trudi Williams, R-Fort Myers, looks poised to win another term in the House representing parts of Collier and Lee counties. Williams raised more than $50,000 and kept most of it, with around $35,000 on hand in the middle of July. With no Democrats in the race, Williams is a heavy favorite over conservative independent candidate Steve Cosgrove. Cosgrove loaned his campaign $4,000 and spent more than $3,000 of that. Williams appears a heavy favorite to return to Tallahassee.
