Among more than 500 political donations totaling around $250,000 that have been made to Marion County candidates this year, real estate investors, developers, and construction companies represent both the the largest number of individual donations (141) and the largest total of any industries ($121,775).
According to records maintained by the Marion County Supervisor of Elections’ Office, approximately $331,026.61 in political contributions has been raised for local candidates through March 31.
Records show that many of the sixteen candidates have self-funded their campaigns to the tune of tens of thousands of dollars, including Sherri Lynn Meadows and Brien Weidemiller, candidates for different Marion County commission seats who have both contributed more than $20,000 to their own campaigns.
After accounting for the various self-donations and other contributions that were non-monetary (i.e., ad banners, venue rental fee waivers, etc.), which equate to between $75,000 and $90,000, approximately $250,000 has been donated from several hundred individuals.
Those individuals have listed dozens of different occupations, including advertising, accounting, agriculture, attorney, auto sales, aviation, beverage distribution, hairdresser, investigator, pilot, and real estate agent, to name a few. There are also dozens of retirees who have made individual contributions.
Of all the industries represented, there were more individual and company donations ($121,775) from people in development and real estate (140) than any other industry.
Records show that over 60 individuals and companies listed various types of “real estate” as their occupation (i.e., investment, sales, etc.), nearly 50 listed “construction” or “contractor,” and over a dozen listed “developer/development.”
Although many of the smaller industries are well-represented, including restaurant/hospitality donors who have given over $20,000 to candidates, none of the industries come close to real estate and development.
Another group of note, agricultural specialists and farmers, have given approximately $8,000 in donations and attorneys have given a total of $4,000 to various candidates.
Last month, Ocala-News.com reported that three candidates (Mike Crimi, Sarah James, and Meadows) have accumulated over $223,000 in donations, dwarfing the rest of the field.
| Candidate Name | Donations | Office |
| Brien Weidemiller | $22,000 | Marion County Commission – District 2 |
| Matthew Cretul | $24,750 | Marion County Commission – District 2 |
| Mike Crimi | $116,383 | Marion County Commission – District 2 |
| Anthony Barriner-Massa | $239 | Marion County Commission – District 4 |
| Clint Barkley | $180 | Marion County Commission – District 4 |
| Jeff Bairstow | $21,053 | Marion County Commission – District 4 |
| Randall Alvord | $14,589 | Marion County Commission – District 4 |
| Sherri Lynn Meadows | $75,625 | Marion County Commission – District 4 |
| Wanda Wimberly Lasher | $19,835 | Marion County Commission – District 4 |
| Daniel Lane Makara | $0 | Marion County School Board – District 3 |
| Eric Cummings | $190 | Marion County School Board – District 3 |
| Earl “Buddy” Wyckoff | $650 | Marion County School Board – District 4 |
| Jeffrey “Jeff” Brewer | $1,803 | Marion County School Board – District 4 |
| Mike Mills | $0 | Marion County School Board – District 4 |
| Donald Michael Barber | $2,529 | Marion County School Board – District 5 |
| Sarah James | $31,200 | Marion County School Board – District 5 |
| TOTAL | $331,027 |
Donations are limited to $1,000 or less, in accordance with state law, which prohibits people and political committees from making contributions “in excess of $1,000 to a candidate for countywide office.”
The general election is scheduled for November 3 and the primaries are scheduled for August 18.
For more information on polling locations, or to read the candidate statement for each individual, visit the Marion County Supervisor of Elections online.
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