St. Lucie County sheriff's race continues to bring in large donations

Lina Portman3 weeks ago

1 4 minutes read

ST. LUCIE COUNTY — Residents, and others, continue to open their wallets and donate to candidates in the hotly contested sheriff's race here, with two candidates enjoying their most successful reporting periods yet.

The second quarter reporting period, which runs from April 1 to May 31, is the last quarterly report. Report changes every two weeks as the August 20 primary election and the November 5 general election approach.

Although the second quarter period lasted only two months, compared to previous three-month periods, Richard Del Toro and Preston Michael DiFrancesco, both Republicans, raised more money than in any previous reporting period .

The other two candidates running are incumbent Sheriff Keith Pearson, a Republican, and Steven Giordano, a Democrat. Both have seen fundraising slow compared to previous periods.

However, overall, the state of the fundraising competition remains largely the same as in the previous period. Del Toro leads in both total funds raised from remaining cash, followed in order in both categories by Pearson, Giordano and DiFrancesco.

Other candidates who had entered the race withdrew or failed to meet qualifying requirements by last week's filing deadline.

Here are the candidates for sheriff, with a look at their campaign fundraising:

Richard Del Toro

Del Toro, acting police chief in Port St. Lucie, collected $77,949 during the two-month second quarter reporting period, while spending $28,918.38. That brings the total amount raised in the campaign to $395,918 and leaves him with $257,451.91 in cash.

Despite spending more than $138,000, Del Toro has more money on hand than the total amount raised by all of his opponents.

During this period, Del Toro received a number of notable donations, including from other local politicians.

In a continuing trend, Port St. Lucie City Councilor Anthony Bonna donated $25 on April 1 and May 1, bringing his total over the past three years to the maximum of $1,000.

Another trend that continues for Del Toro involves donations from political committees.

Friends of Erin Grall, R-Vero Beach, donated $1,000 in April. Mast for Congress, the committee of U.S. Congressman Brian Mast, R-Fort Pierce, donated $1,000 less than a week later.

Just after receiving support from the St. Lucie County Deputies Union which previously donated $1,000, Del Toro received a $1,000 donation from a political committee affiliated with the St. Lucie County Charity Association. Dade County Police.

Del Toro also has support from other local public safety figures.

The estate of former St. Lucie County Sheriff Robert C. “Bobby” Knowles, the last Republican to hold the office, donated $1,000 in May. The family of Knowles, who served as sheriff from 1984 to 2001, said he supported Del Toro before his death last year. Cheryl Knowles, the former sheriff's daughter-in-law, donated $1,000 the same day as the estate.

Former Jupiter Police Chief Frank Kitzerow, now city manager, donated $100, after already donating $125 in 2022.

Riviera Beach Fire Chief John Curd also donated $100.

Keith Pearson

Pearson, who was appointed sheriff by Gov. Ron DeSantis in December, raised $10,360 during the second quarter while spending $17,550.09. That brings the total amount raised in the campaign to $251,843 and leaves him with $180,474.63 in cash.

The total figures include a $100,000 loan Pearson gave to his campaign during the previous reporting period.

Pearson has the second most available money in the race.

Many of Pearson's donations over the past period have come from individuals, including one from a family that had donated thousands of dollars in the past. Michael DiFrancesco donated $1,000 in April. DiFrancesco Construction, a company owned by Michael DiFrancesco, donated the same maximum amount on the same day.

The Pearson campaign has now received maximum donations from at least six members of the DiFrancesco family, as well as donations from numerous businesses owned by family members.

The Pearson campaign filed its report early for the first two weeks of June, reporting an additional $335 raised and $1,258.60 spent.

Steven Giordano

Giordano, a law enforcement and security veteran who currently works as a nuclear security officer at the St. Lucia Nuclear Power Plant, raised $2,683.76 during the second quarter, while spending $12,683 $.05. That brings the total amount raised in the campaign to $232,608.76 and leaves him with $13,214.62 in cash.

By far the campaign's biggest spender thus far, Giordano's total numbers include $227,100 in loans to his own campaign since filing his candidacy last year.

Preston Michael DiFrancesco

Preston Michael DiFrancesco, a former law enforcement officer, raised $13,050 in the second quarter without spending anything. That brings the total amount raised in the campaign to $17,900 and leaves him with $15,542.05 in cash.

Preston Michael DiFrancesco did not receive donations from the same family members who donated to Pearson, and previously to Del Toro before Pearson's appointment. Other family members, however, donated.

Joey DiFrancesco donated $500 in May, following a $300 donation in a previous period.

More: Find out who is giving money to each candidate in a costly St. Lucie County sheriff election

More: Ballots set for local elections, find out who is and isn't running in St. Lucie County races

Preston Michael DiFrancesco gave himself $250 in May. A few days later, he loaned his own campaign $12,300. This is in addition to the $300 loan he gave to his campaign during a previous period.

Preston Michael DiFrancesco's campaign filed its report early for the first two weeks of June, reporting expenses of $12,703.92, with no additional funds raised.

Wicker Perlis is TCPalm's watchdog reporter for St. Lucie County. You can reach him at [email protected].

Richard Del Toro

Keith Pearson

Steven Giordano

Preston Michael DiFrancesco

Lina Portman

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