Local Florida Legislature candidates jump out to fund-raising leads

Voters won't go to the polls until next year, but that didn't stop local candidates for the Florida Legislature -- currently, all of them incumbents except for former Rep. Bill Galvano -- from raising money in the first three months of this year.

All of the candidates so far are running unopposed in their respective races.

According to campaign finance reports filed with the Florida Division of Elections:

• Senate District 21 candidate Galvano raised $10,250 in the first quarter, bringing his total take since he filed in July 2009 to more than $227,000. Galvano, of Bradenton, is running for the seat now held by Sen. Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton, who cannot run for re-election because of term limits. Galvano so far has spent more than $80,000 campaigning for the position.
• Sen. Nancy Detert, R-Venice, in Senate District 23, raised $19,900 in the first quarter for her re-election effort. Detert has raised a total of $24,900 and spent more than $2,400, since Jan. 1, 2009.
• Freshman Rep. Greg Steube, R-Bradenton, in  House District 67, raised $15,400 in the first quarter for his re-election campaign, and spent more than $1,100. Steube was first elected this past November, and during his rookie campaign proved his fund-raising prowess.
• Freshman Rep. Jim Boyd, R-Bradenton, in House District 68, raised $11,000 and spent more than $1,100 in the first quarter. He, too, was first elected in November, running unopposed in both the primary and general election.
• Rep. Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg, in House District 55, raised $6,800 in the first quarter, and spent just under $900.
• Rep. Ray Pilon, R-Sarasota, in House District 69, raised $5,000 in the first quarter, and spent $112.48.