Galvano adds to his campaign warchest

With no opponent in sight, Florida Senate candidate Bill Galvano continues to add to his campaign warchest.

In the three months that ended June 30, Galvano, a former member of the Florida House, raised almost $22,500 in cash and in-kind contributions to his campaign for the District 21 seat in the Senate. That brings his total take so far to $248, 459.38, according to filings with the Florida Division of Elections.

Factor in more than $87,100 in reported expenses, and Galvano's campaign has more than $161,300 -- an amount sure to give any possible challengers pause, even if the election is more than a year away.

Among the list of donors to Galvano during the second quarter of this year were former state Sen. Ed Price; Manatee County commissioners Larry Bustle, John Chappie, Michael Gallen and Carol Whitmore; Manatee County Property Appraiser Charles Hackney; former Manatee County commissioner Pat Glass; Walter Presha, CEO of Manatee County Rural Health Services; Manatee County School Board members Julie Aranibar, Robert Gause and Harry Kinnan; and Bradenton Mayor Wayne Poston.

Other local legislative candidates were less active in the reporting period ending June 30.

Rep. Jim Boyd, R-Bradenton, reported $4,100 in contributions during the second quarter, and spending nothing. He has $15,100 in the bank, according to his filings.

Rep. Greg Steube, R-Bradenton, reported receiving no contributions during the second quarter, and spending almost $1,262, according to his campaign finance report. Because of prior contributions, Steube, the incumbent in House District 67, has about $13,000 in the bank.

Rep. Ray Pilon, R-Sarasota, reported receiving more than $1,400 in contributions. He currently has about $6,000 in his campaign account, according to the Division of Elections.

Boyd, Steube and Pilon were first elected in 2010, and none has yet drawn a challenger for next year's election.

State Rep. Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg, reported no contributions in the second quarter of the year, but he did report more than $2,600 in spending. He has almost $3,300 in his account, according to the Division of Elections.

His Republican opponent, Sharon Russ, has reported raising $150, according to the Division of Elections.