Katherine Fernandez Rundle has racked up a huge cash surplus in his attempt to retain his position as state attorney in the Miami-Dade 11th Circuit Judicial Circuit. Rundle, who has served for 27 years and has been re-elected six times since 1993, raised nearly $ 600,000 and provided his campaign with an additional $ 50,000 in loans.

Rundle also spent $ 501,524 on his campaign, leaving $ 143,157 in cash.

His opponent, Melba Pearson, raised $ 162,779 and spent $ 151,646, leaving $ 11,133 remaining.

Rundle, who was deputy prosecutor for 15 years before his election in 1993, ran unopposed in his last election. She spent more in a week – $ 245,570 from July 18 to 24 – than Pearson collected during the campaign.

Rundle spent a large chunk of that money promoting his name in the community. She paid G Media Group $ 74,000 for a radio ad on July 20 and $ 27,148 to Influence Communications for the same day direct mail.

Rundle also paid $ 58,120 to Edge Communications for advertising and direct mail and $ 41,465 to Stephanie Broomfield and Associates for community outreach, phone banking and a media buy during this funding period.

Despite the wide funding disparity in the campaign, Rundle continues to fundraise.

His campaign raised $ 14,925 from July 18 to 24 and $ 14,031 from July 25 to 31.

The Miami-Dade Democratic Party called on Rundle to to abandon of the race last month over concerns over his prosecution case, and Pearson recently cited internal survey it shows that the race is a statistical tie.

Pearson raised $ 11,314 from July 11 to 17 and $ 7,908 from July 18 to 24, and she spent $ 21,430 in the first period and $ 9,960 in the last period.

The two candidates will face off on August 18, and the winner will be the next county attorney.

Views of the publication:
912