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Highlands Today

Sheriff Candidates Raise $55,000

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By GARY PINNELL

Highlands Today

Published: August 7, 2008

Updated: 08/07/2008 08:30 am

For a political outsider, Republican Ron Grimming is finding it easy to raise money in Highlands County.

Although he moved to Highlands County only two years ago, the former Florida Highway Patrol director has found no problem funding his campaign for Highlands County sheriff. He's raised over $31,500, according to campaign finance reports filed with the local elections office.

Incumbent Sheriff Susan Benton is in second place with $12,000, and Avon Park Police Commander Mike Rowan is in third with $11,600. Benton and Rowan are Democrats, and will meet in the Aug. 26 primary. The winner will take on Republican Grimming in the Nov. 4 general election.

Many of Grimming's first contributions, back in January and February, were from Illinois, where he was once the deputy director of the state police, and Miami-Dade, where he served as police chief at the community college and director of the criminal justice program.

In the spring and summer reporting periods, however, Grimming has raised most of his money in that hotbed of political activity, Lake Placid.

"We had a successful fundraising quarter, and we're really thrilled with it," said Grimming.

The secret weapon has been fundraisers, Grimming said. The campaign sold about 575 tickets, at $15 each, to a barbecue at Woody's RV, south of Sebring.

"We recognize that people are going through some very difficult economic times," Grimming said. "It's easier to get people to buy a $10 or $15 barbecue ticket than to get them to contribute $300 or $500."

"I only did one fundraiser, early on," Rowan said. "I've had more luck just meeting people and talking to them. I think people appreciated that."

Still, why is it possible to double the contributions of a sitting sheriff and the longtime assistant police chief in Avon Park?

"I think the answer to that is that we've been working hard," Grimming said. "I attribute a lot to our campaign committee."

About three months into the campaign, Rowan finally got comfortable approaching people and asking for money. He's raised another $1,000 since the July 25 report was filed.

"It's very hard for me to ask people for money," Rowan said.

Rowan confesses that he hasn't spent a lot of time in Lake Placid.

"But most of my funds came from right here from Highlands County. folk, and I'm proud of that," Rowan said.

He's canvassing neighborhoods. Last weekend, he knocked on 100 doors in the Highlands Homes neighborhood, near Sebring High School.

Is it hard raising money in these economic times?

"That's a tough question for me, because I'm not out there asking for contributions," Benton said. "But people are very serious about who they want as their sheriff. People want to be part of the process, so they're contributing on their own. I haven't gone out asking folks.

Benton isn't comfortable with fundraising.

"As I move around the county and do my regular job, people come up to me, and if they ask, I give them information about who to contact," said Benton.

She doesn't have a fundraising goal, but suggested $30,000 will be enough to meet most of her campaign objectives, like buying advertising and mailing literature to people.

Back in April, she also was the beneficiary of a fundraiser at a Mexican restaurant in Lake Placid.

"I've been raising money to expand the Children's Advocacy Center," Benton said. "I don't have any problems with that. But philosophically, this is a difficult aspect of campaigning because that money could be going to the children's center or to feed people."

SUSAN BENTON
Susan TelliFort Lauderdale100
Arnone ConsultingLake Placid250
George Grimmett (in-kind)Lake Placid500
Sochacki EnterprisesLake Placid50
Willard & Opal CampbellLake Placid50
Jose IbaneLake Placid25
Dwight & Majel BowermanLake Placid100
Charles ReynoldsLake Placid500
Sochacki Enterprises Inc.Lake Placid50
Willard & Opal CampbellLake Placid50
Juices & Beverages (in-kind)Lake Placid500
Chapman's ConstructionLake Placid100
Gary & Jeanne GrossmanLake Placid50
Chef Buddy's DeliLake Placid100
Paul Phypers Jr.Lake Placid250
Karen & Scott ForsythLake Placid100
Mary TannerLake Placid100
Jon & Sharon Draper Lake Placid100
Dorothy James BatesLake Placid100
Davis & ThompkinsLake Placid100
Lynn & Michael WudtkeLake Placid100
Gerald & Suzanne EntelLake Placid100
Scarborough FarmsLake Placid500
Atlantic IndustriesLake Placid250
Laura & Thomas ShirleyLake Placid500
RE/MAX Realty PlusLake Placid500
Loyd Shirley Testamentary TrustLake Placid500
Vidal VilledLake Placid50
Thomas GrimmettFort Lauderdale450
Patricia BogovichPembrooke Pines25
Eileen & Bannon MayLake Placid100
Jon & Sharon Draper (in-kind)Lake Placid50
Jere Creed (in-kind)Lake Placid50
Bobby Scarbourgh (in-kind)Lake Placid50
Scott & Karen Forsyth (in-kind)Lake Placid50
Pamela Karlson (in-kind)Lake Placid50
Tom Grimmett(in-kind)Lake Placid50
Phypers Corp.(in-kind)Lake Placid50
Irving & Judith BowenFort Lauderdale 100
James & Donna DinapoliLake Placid100
Joyce AdamsLake Placid150
Highlands Greenhouses Inc.Venus
Neil & Carole MuirSebring50
Doris GentryAvon Park150
Smith or Jean RudasillSebring150
Law Enforcement Accreditation ConsultantsPembroke Pines250
Richard or Nancy ReaneyLake Placid50
James D. SewellSt. Petersburg100
Walter & Helen UrbanskiSebring100
Terrence LewisSarasota200
Jim's PistolarrowSebring50
L.E. & Martha BrookerSebring250
Alan Jay Automotive ManagementSebring500
Alan Jay WildsteinSebring500
Alan Jay Auto RentalsSebring500
Alan Jay Wildstein FamilySebring500
Craig & Beth JohnsonSebring150

Total money & in-kind contributions 4/1/08 to 7/18/08$10,650
Total money contributions to date$12,025
Total expenditures$4,139

RON GRIMMING
Sherryl MilesLake Placid500
Clarence PolstonSebring50
Charles & Dorothy StidhamLake Placid100
Ken & Elizabeth LeBlancLake Placid25
Michael ChapmanSebring100
B.I. & D.A. GriffingAvon Park40
Mitchell ZionLake Placid50
Rapp GrovesSebring250
Gil SantavenereSebring100
Central Florida InternationalSebring500
G.W. IbrahimSebring200
Benton ExcavationSebring500
Elgin Bayless Jr.Sebring100
Anonymous10
Highlands Ranch Limited PartnershipCoral Gables500
Bobbie Harshman (in-kind)Sebring50
RGA Services Inc. (in-kind)Sebring250
Rodney Elinor Process (in-kind)Sebring250
Southern Lifestyle (in-kind)Lake Placid250
Maid of the Spirit (in-kind)Sebring250
Kahn Grove Service (in-kind)Sebring250
Bail Bonds by Robert (in-kind) GarciaSebring250
Peppercorns Runway (in-kind)Sebring250
RGA Services Inc. (in-kind)Sebring184
Robert Garcia (in-kind)Sebring164
Robert Garcia (in-kind)Sebring53
Ron Grimming (in-kind)Lake Placid20
Bob HowardKey West100
Virginia NeelSebring100
H. Frederick KeiberSebring250
Robert & Christy Crews IIAvon Park500
Pat CogswellSebring40
Georgia BurtonLake Placid25
Ron Grimming (in-kind)20
Joe & Joyce ChiavaroliBrooksville, FL500
Alan Jay Auto ManagementSebring500
Gillie C. RussellLake Placid500
Jerry & Carol DeJongeAvon Park95
Lake Forest VeterinaryAvon Park500
Charles Hopfinger (in-kind)Lake Placid42
Woody's RV (in-kind)Sebring500
Christopher Wolfe (in-kind)Cape Coral500
Alycia Henderson (in-kind)Cape Coral470
Ray Fisher (in-kind)Sebring250
Carol Fisher (in-kind)Sebring250
Ron Grimming (in-kind)Lake Placid60
Ted & Pat PoliacSebring50
Peter AlbertSebring50
Karen AlbertSebring50
John McCoySebring50
Charles Hopfinger (in-kind) 45
Jodi SuscoLake Placid30
Ron Grimming(in-kind)Lake Placid20
Jack & Renee EarlyLake Placid30
Larry & Jennifer SappLake Placid30
Bevis ConstructionLake Placid150
Ron GrimmingLake Placid10
Richard & Lesa MoreyDuffer Loop75
Adam C. MartinSebring30
Brice & Christine ParkerSebring60
Scott Brown Lake Placid30
Jerry DeJonge Avon Park30
Elgin BaylessSebring30
Bruce LybargenSebring15
Gary MusselmanSebring30
Mitchell & Brandy ZionLake Placid360
Pat & Don CogswellSebring30
Nancy RanckSebring30
Bowen & Son RoofingSebring225
Elgin Bayless Inc.Sebring150
Gary HopfingerLake Placid150
Debby & Scott ZornoSebring30
Jim & Maureen HecoxSebring30
Steve FlaybaylSebring60
Robin & Doug MortonSebring30
Rusty EurickLake Placid30
Jerry BennettLake Placid30
Thakker Patel & Diez Sebring300
Robert CrewsAvon Park300
Ed HotalingMiami150
Liz HizeySebring30
Michael HalloranSebring15
Tony MorrisonSebring30
Mary StrenthSebring75
Shannon StrenthSebring30
Mary GoldstonLake Placid200
Make It Sew Inc.Miami150
Ted & Pat PoliacSebring75
Bagwell LumberAvon Park250
David SimoJupiter100
Paul & Justine DevlinAvon Park100
Lowell & Joan HenlingSebring120
Eugene SaulsSebring60
Michael BrownSebring360
Woody's RVSebring (in-kind)200
Woody's RVSebring$300
R.L. & Carol FisherSebring30
Charlotte StoneSebring30
James StallinsLake Placid30
Allen BellSebring30
Larry GrovuzialHomassassa30
Georgia BurtonLake Placid15
Mike & Joan CreenanLake Placid30
Ron GrimmingLake Placid57
Ron GrimmingLake Placid50
Eugene SaulsSebring100
Candace WixmanSebring30
Michael ThompsonSebring30
Pat GrimsleyLake Placid50
Lonnie & Cindy WellsLake Placid500
Finishing TouchLake Placid60
Wayne & Kay ToddSebring60
Brian & Marjorie AckerSebring30
Advance ServicesLake Placid30
Marlene or David SnyderLake Placid50
C. BatesLake Placid100
Thomas & Patricia KatsanisLake Placid30
Gilbert & Merlita SantavenereSebring150
Franklin and Dorothy PillsburySebring60
John & Cynthia KingSebring60
All American AsphaltSebring150
Alycia LendermanCape Coral30
Kathy AckerSebring50
Berl AckerSebring50
Kelly ConnallySebring50
Merrie MetzgerSebring50
Jennifer Lewis-GruellAvon Park50
Thomas ConnellySebring50
Don & Patty NemanLake Placid30
Jim CarrollLake Placid30
Derrel BryanLake Placid15
Gerald & Linda McNeilLake Placid30
Renee & Walter KohlLake Placid30
Charles KazuraLake Placid30
Jack ReynoldsLake Placid30
Carl KnoxLake Placid30
Scott & Sue SuterLake Placid30
Janet & Jack MarceauLake Placid15
Frank SuterLake Placid15
Ed BussLake Placid30
Steve FouresLorida15
Leonard HensonLake Placid30
Louis WhiteLake Placid15
Cassie JacksonLake Placid15
Matt SuterLake Placid15
Steve FouresLorida30
Olivia ScottAvon Park30
Gene Polk Lake Placid30
Charles StidumLake Placid30
Randall & Kristin ParkerOkeechobee 30
Carla & Martin CrawfordSebring30
DeDe & Charles StidumLake Placid30
Bob & Janet Deitrich (in-kind)Lake Placid85
Bulb Bin (in-kind)Sebring140
Donna & Chuck Pedrey (in-kind)Lake Placid450
Martha CabotSebring15
Robert & Janis DietrichLake Placid30
Cathy RosenbergerSebring15
Scott DaSilvaSebring15
Anne Daigle Lake Placid15
Vickie LepreeLake Placid15
Jeffery KeithSebring150
Stephen Haward Davis Inc.Sebring150
Jeff & Stacey ClogstonSebring30
Mary & Douglas PughSebring30
William AliffLake Placid15
L. ChamberlainSebring15
Ray Fisher (in-kind)Sebring235
Renee EarlyLake Placid50
David WillSebring10
Adriana GarciaSebring40
Tom OuversonSebring50
Marlene BargerLake Placid30
Kelly HortonDavie100
Robert BargerLake Placid100
Fred & Jo SawdyLake Placid45
Wilson ShoesSebring15
Dale & Ginny SmithLake Placid30
William & Rhonda HartLake Placid30
Clifford & Pat SawdySebring30
Ricky & Tonia GonzalesLake Placid30
Jim & Joan WhiteLake Placid30
Corwin NicklasLake Placid15
Jessie & John Causey Jr. Lake Placid30
Don & Patty NemanLake Placid35
George & Alastair IbrahimSebring150
Robert & Roxie LewisSebring30
Big League HaulingAvon Park60
Steve & Nell RobertsSebring30
Anthony LomonicoSebring30
Mary & Robert Strenth Sebring45
Jane HancockSebring120
J.B. BentonSebring30
Georgia BurtonLake Placid30
Iggie SolerSebring45
Rich BeebeSebring50
Joyce ShellSebring50
Christy SmokstadSebring50
Jon & Mary FoySebring30
Mark Van VoorhisSunrise15
Mike HowzeSebring15
George TannerSebring15
Mark & Lisa Van VoorhisSunrise150
Gary Hopfinger (in-kind)Lake Placid250
Carol Fisher (in-kind)Sebring235
Sally MartinSebring30
Billy BushSebring30
Shannon StrenthSebring45
Nadine TedstoneSebring100
Candi GarciaSebring50
Myrna GarciaSebring50
Angie GarciaSebring50
John HoneywellLake Placid45
Lynn HoneywellLake Placid30
Tom Plante ConstructionAvon Park50
Larry CripeLake Placid15
Frank MitchellLake Placid30
C&C PlumbingLake Placid30
Paul DevlinSebring30
Chris TerryMarion, N.C.15
Bob CoyLake Placid15
Melissa MimsSebring15
Robert NealSebring15
Bob DietrichLake Placid45
Duncan BernadetteSebring45
Lakeside TruckingLake Placid250
Mitch ZionLake Placid27
Scott ZornsOakwood, IL30

Total money & in-kind contributions 4/1/08 to 7/18/08$22,652
Total money contributions to date$31,567
Total expenditures$2,989

MIKE ROWAN
Michelle AlvarezSebring120
Navin DeshpandeSebring100
Maxwell GrovesAvon Park500
Buttwell Stone Punta Gorda200
M.A. ColonSebring30
Marc Wilburpolice officer100
Air Supply H&CSebring400
Royal Oaks RealtorsAvon Park200
Justin McClennanAvon Park50
Robin BoucherAvon Park50
John McClellanAvon Park50
Daniel BoucherAvon Park50
J-Mack ConcreteAvon Park50
Mildred Molinateacher50
Jose Molinapolice officer50
Amalia VelaquezAvon Park50
Alan Jay Automotive ManagementSebring500
Oak Tree InnAvon Park25
Terry Wolfpolice officer200
Allen Branchpolice officer50
Comer ElectricSebring200
Sun'N Lake of Sebringrefund250
Deborah BarberAvon Park500
OT Trucking & HaulingAvon Park150
Lake Forest Vet ClinicAvon Park250
Shakzsk JoshiAvon Park150
Donald WillAvon Park40
Eddie OshetskyAvon Park50
Alastair IbrahimLake Placid50
Alastair IbrahimSebring150
Ashok Sonni TrustSebring250
Patrick DanseyAvon Park75
Richard Proverb Jr.Sebring50
Budget Bi-Rite InsuranceAvon Park500
Santiago HernandezSebring100
Janice ShoemakerSebring200
Michael RowanAvon Park49
Joseph Pricepolice officer200
Plaza ChevroletAvon Park200
Bagwell LumberAvon Park250
Robert CrewsAvon Park200
Roy Dewayne LemlerAvon Park30
Michael RowanAvon Park61
Benton ExcavationSebring200

Total money & in-kind contributions 4/1/08 to 7/18/08$6,980
Total money contributions to date$ 11,610
Total expenditures $9,024

Gary Pinnell can be reached at gpinnell@highlandstoday.com or 863 386-5828

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