May, a downtown business owner making her first run for office, has amassed
While some locals are trying to figure out how May was able to pull in so much money, and how she managed to get so much of it from some of the area's most powerful people, May says there's no mystery or controversy. She said the checks came from people she's known for years, or those who heard about her accomplishments.
"The business people will support people who've proven they can survive in business," said May, owner of Quanita's Executive Wellness Coaching, Fitness, and
Some candidates say the size of a campaign war chest is less important in a
Eight of the 12 Daytona competitors have poured more of their own money into their campaigns than May, who has chipped in
"I thought she handled herself well, and she had some pretty good ideas that would be beneficial to residents," Maroney said.
Maroney is president of
Brown &
Brown said he didn't know May when she requested to meet with him and asked for a donation.
"She was recommended by somebody," he said. "I was impressed. She's a woman who brought herself up by her bootstraps, and she's very energetic. She keeps a lot of balls in the air. To start your own business and not know anybody from Adam's house cat, that takes a lot of guts and blood, sweat and tears. She also seemed knowledgeable about city issues."
The Browns' only other financial contribution in the
"She's been in there, and she's sort of an individualist," Brown said. "She does her own thing. I see her at a lot of things. She called me and I said I'd support her."
A total of 24 individuals and corporations gave
Who is
May was born and raised in
Over those 13 years, she has built a business with a diverse list of services, ranging from dance lessons to executive wellness coaching to business growth guidance. Her business is located on
That commercial rental space just west of
She has served on the city's Downtown Redevelopment Board since 2014, and is currently co-chair of that board made up of members appointed by city commissioners. She said she's been very involved in the community, working with organizations such as the
"I have been engaged in my activities for years, just quietly," she said.
While she has a healthy campaign account, and has only spent about one-third of what she's collected, over the past two months she's also been walking the neighborhoods of Zone 3 for three or four hours a day. As she realized some of the people she was meeting were home because they're unemployed, she said she put together a job fair
She said she's gone to neighborhood meetings, but concedes she has skipped some.
"You reach a point where you hear the same things at meetings over and over," she said. "After that, my goal was to speak to the people who did not attend the neighborhood meetings and listen to their concerns and see what I could do about those concerns."
May's meeting attendance is a point of contrast with one of her Zone 3 rivals, Pyle, a regular for years at neighborhood meetings and various city board meetings. Pyle's grassroots campaign grew out of her neighborhood involvement and efforts to improve the beachside, where she lives and owns other properties she's working to improve.
Pyle is a member of the Beachside Redevelopment Board, and she started a newsletter to help her neighbors stay informed about city happenings. She and Ruby also started the group
If elected, Ruby will pursue her ideas to allow residents citywide to be more directly involved in their government. Pyle and Ruby have immersed themselves in neighborhood interests, and neither has sought a large campaign fund. Both have raised a little over
"I'm counting on my grassroots supporters," Pyle said. "It's about being at neighborhood meetings and having your finger on the pulse. People want a commissioner they can talk to, and someone speaking about what they want to hear."
She's also been knocking on doors and trying to amass votes, not campaign contributions.
"It's listening to constituents, not just my idea of what I think is great," Pyle said.
Ruby's campaign literature says she's "a truly independent candidate accepting no money from large developers and donors." It also says, "I'll represent you, not the wealthy few."
"I can self-fund pretty much," Ruby said.
She handed out her campaign literature and had long talks with voters as she and her volunteers walked to the roughly 4,100 homes in Zone 1. She has met people who went to
'Can't buy my vote'
While Trager has raised the second-largest amount of money, she has also given herself the largest cash infusion:
Trager, who's in her fourth year on the Commission, did attract some heavyweight backers:
While she's grateful for the financial backing, she said her supporters know "I vote honestly" and they "can't buy my vote." She's also not counting on the financial and power structure backing to win her a second four-year term.
"I think the most important thing is to meet the people," Trager said.
She's been doing just that, knocking on doors and spending the past week at the
Perhaps as valuable as monetary support, Trager also was endorsed by the
"I cannot think of anyone more honest, hardworking or passionate about the city of
Zone 3 candidate
"I really don't think much about it," he said. "I've only gotten a few small contributions from people who believe in me."
He doesn't buy into the idea that thousands of dollars are needed to spread campaign signs and stickers around. He said that's unnecessary "bling."
"I hope people vote for me on my own merit," said Newman, who has knocked on a lot of doors and gone to debates as well as neighborhood meetings. "I chose to keep it simple. I've gotten out there and shared my stands on the issues."
He said he hasn't reached out to big contributors.
"There's the idea you owe them when you get into office," Newman said. "That's a concern from voters. I just believe people should look at your campaign and contribute if they want."
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