Kaufman maintains fundraising edge as Henriquez leans on $17 grassroots push

Ethical questions surround the $17 for #17 due to husbands role as an employee with the Monroe County School Disttict.

KEY WEST, Fla. — Mayoral candidate Samuel Kaufman continues to hold a fundraising advantage over challenger Danise “Dee Dee” Henriquez, according to the latest campaign finance reports, although Henriquez’s filing shows a successful grassroots effort built around a public appeal for supporters to contribute $17.

Henriquez’s Period 2 report, covering June 13 through June 26, shows she raised $8,264.17 during the reporting period, increasing her campaign total to $125,649.17. She reported $14,426.06 in expenditures during the period and $73,166.75 in total spending to date.

Kaufman’s Period 1 report, covering June 1 through June 12, shows he raised $4,825.21 during the reporting period. His campaign has now collected $145,422.69 while spending $87,252.28 overall.

The filings illustrate two distinctly different fundraising approaches.

Henriquez husband, KWHS employee and head baseball coach, has made several pleas in his Conch’s uniform, raising question about possible state ethics violations under

Henriquez’s report is dominated by dozens of $17 contributions, reflecting a public fundraising campaign built around the slogan “Chip in $17 for #17.” In campaign advertising, Henriquez’s husband urged supporters to donate $17, writing, “Dee Dee has always been in my corner. Now I’m asking you to be in hers.”

Henriquez garnered support — mostly from family and close friends — with numerous donors contributing exactly $17. Of “chipping in $17 for #17, many are irrelevant in the race, as they either do not live within the City limits or in Monroe county and will be unable to vote in the Aug. 18 election.

The filing also includes support from relatives and businesses. Some of the notable donations came from:

• Amber and Randy Acevedo — $17 each

• Sherry Culpepper — $100

• Southernmost Realty Group $117

• Javier Garrido — $250

• Joyce Griffin — $250

• Bobby Kuchinsky — $250

• Richard Welter — $500

• Gregory Harrison — $1,000

Kaufman’s report reflects a different fundraising profile, with fewer but larger contributions. Six donors contributed $250 or more during the reporting period:

• Duncan Barks — $516.25

• Stephanie Eric Hench — $500

• Jeff Jolly — $500

• Frank Menditch — $516.25

• Lisa Menditch — $516.25

• Victoria Yaar Marraccini — $500

Kaufman’s expenditures focused primarily on campaign operations, including paid campaign staff, website development, digital advertising, event insurance, event rentals and social media advertising.

While Kaufman retains nearly a $20,000 overall fundraising advantage, Henriquez’s latest filing demonstrates an ability to generate a large number of small-dollar donations through grassroots fundraising.

Florida law places restrictions on political activity by public employees while acting in their official capacity or using public resources. Henriquez’s husband is employed by the Monroe County School District, but the campaign finance reports themselves do not establish whether his fundraising appeal implicates those restrictions, and no official finding reflected in the materials provided concludes that any law was violated.

Overall, the reports show Kaufman continuing to rely on grassroots support from locals, while Henriquez’s campaign appeared to make the $17 for #17 plea to be able to claim grassroots support which does not exist.

Financials will go to once a week in the near future. Watch this space.