Commissioner Zalak leads District 4 in raising campaign funds

File photo of Commissioner Carl Zalak

The latest financial campaign report shows County Commissioner Carl Zalak has raised the most funds in the Republican primary race for the District 4 seat, a whopping $141,000.

The amount easily outdistances opponents Keith Poole, a developer, who has received $60,870, as well as Rachel Sams, a former Ocala police officer and now a financial advisor, who has collected $38,855. Sams, however, holds second place in the number of donors. There are two write-in candidates for the Aug. 23 election, Brian Christian Donnelly and Seth Posner, who have received $100 or less.

Most of the donations to Zalak, who is seeking a fourth four-year term as commissioner, come from real estate developers and construction companies. The report shows 90% of Zalak’s campaign contributions were for $1,000, the maximum dollar contribution allowed for one person or entity. However, it is not uncommon for supporters to increase their contributions by making multiple maximum donations spread among individual family members or corporations.

The Gazette reviewed Zalak’s campaign financial records to determine who the highest dollar contributors were.

In a previous report, the Gazette reported campaign contributions totaling $5,000 from the Roberts family, the developers behind the World Equestrian Center (WEC), leading up to a development decision before the county commission. But a more detailed review of contributions reported to the supervisor of elections totals $7,000 from WEC-related companies.

However, the Roberts family of developers were not the most generous contributors to Zalak’s campaign. The Armstrong family of development companies contributed at least $8,000 through their various companies to Zalak’s campaign.

The Kearns family individually and through their development interests contributed at least $9,000 to Zalak. Bill Kearns has been actively developing industrial parks with the help of economic development agreements with the county and city of Ocala over the past 10 years.

The highest dollar contributor to Zalak’s campaign thus far, at least $11,000, are the Mendolas, the family behind Oxford Downs, a gambling establishment in south Marion County that was opened in 2014 and expanded despite local opposition under Zalak’s tenure.

To see the complete list of who contributed to Zalak’s campaign, see the list below: