Fine Art Center a Major Contributor to Heather Gracy

Heather Gracy is neck and neck with incumbent David Carson in the campaign money race. 

With a tally of $21,345, she has raised $25 more than Carson so far. Gracy has spent more than half of what she's raised — about $12,360 — mostly on printing and marketing with , a company owned by Bill Francisco, chairman of the Dunedin Fine Art Center advisory board.

Gracy also received a large or numerous contributions from many other Dunedin Fine Art Center board of directors and advisory board members, from Sail Honeymoon and the Dunedin Firefighter's Association. The Dunedin Fine Art Center recently  for a planned expansion of its West Wing and Sail Honeymoon is a contractor coming up for renewal with the city.

Gracy received financial support from Mayoral candidate Bob Hackworth ($100), and Pinellas County Commissioner Susan Latvala ($50) and Lianne Doglione, wife of late former mayor John Doglione ($50, plus $25.45 in-kind for party supplies).

Other Dunedin Fine Art Center Contributors:

• Irwin Entel, former DFAC board member ($100)
• Arthur Leasure, former DFAC board of directors ($50)
• George Ann Bissett, executive director at DFAC ($100) 
• Allen Kynes, DFAC board of directors, $200, and wife Deborah Kynes, DFAC advisory board, $32.68 in-kind for beverages and paper products ($233)
• Aaron Fodiman, publisher at Tampa Bay Magazine and DFAC advisory board member, $100 and $400 in kind for food and beverages ($500)
• Barbara Hubbard, wife of John Hubbard, who sits on the DFAC board of directors ($100)
• Debra Weible, artist and DFAC board of directors ($250) 
• J. Patrick Donoghue, DFAC board of directors president ($150)
• Kevin Donoghue, financial advisor and DFAC advisory board member ($150) 
• Mel Sams of Tarpon Springs, DFAC board of directors ($130) 
• Gladys Douglas ($500)
• Diane S. Wheatley, DFAC board of directors, immediate past president ($25)
• Gail Gamble, DFAC advisory board member, $150, and husband Charles Gamble, $445, including $95 in-kind for food and party supplies ($690)
• Ken Reinhold, DFAC advisory board member, in-kind donation for invitations, stamps, food and supplies, $349.23; and $500 from wife Patricia Reinhold ($849)
• Mel Ora, husband of DFAC trustee Pamela Ora ($250)
• Susan Latvala, DFAC advisory board ($50)
• Ginger Francisco, teacher and wife of Bill Fransico, DFAC advisory board member and owner of AdSharp ($500)
  
• AdSharp, owned by DFAC advisory board member Bill Francisco, who provided in-kind services to the Gracy campaign ($499.38)

Top Contributors:

• Norman and Nancy Phelps, $500 each from the same household ($1,000)
• David Pauley and Norma Tillges, former citizen advisory board members, $500 each from the same household ($1,000)
• Matthew Alan Brown and Valerie Brown of Safety Harbor, $500 each from the same household ($1,000)
• Jeff and Lori Mattox of Sports Katz Media, Inc., $500 each, same household ($1,000)
• Dr. Ken and Patricia Reinhold, DFAC advisory board member and wife, $500 and $349.23 in-kind ($849)
  
• Gail Gamble, DFAC advisory board member, $150, and husband Charles Gamble, $445, including $95 in-kind for food and party supplies ($690)
• Dave Wolters and Diana Carsey, $300 each, same household split between two occassions each ($600)
  
• Greg Gracy, lawyer and relative at Peebles & Gracy ($500)
• Suzanne Gray, legal assistant ($500)
• Tony Griffith, attorney ($500)
• Ginger Francisco, teacher and wife of Bill Fransico, DFAC advisory board member and owner of AdSharp ($500)
• Sail Honeymoon, contractor on Dunedin Causeway up for renewal with the city ($500)
• Gladys Douglas, Dunedin Fine Art Center ($500)
• Dave Wolters and Diana Carsey, $250 each, same household ($500)
• George Nigro, Dunedin Historical Society advisory board, and May-Ettie Nigro, citizen arts and cultural advisory board member, $250 each, same household ($500)
• Michael Darmanin ($500)
• John R. Stewart, husband of fine art photographer Victoria Stewart, twice donated $250 ($500)
• Dunedin Firefighters Association, twice donated $250 ($500)
  
• AdSharp, owned by DFAC advisory board member Bill Francisco, provided in-kind services to the Gracy campaign ($499.38)

Contributions From Businesses or Organizations:

• Sail Honeymoon, contractor on Dunedin Causeway up for renewal with the city ($500)
• Security Title ($150)
• Dunedin Firefighters Association, twice donated $250 ($500)

In-Kind Contributions:

So far, Gracy has received roughly $4,748 in kind contributions.

At least $3,354 of Gracy's in-kind contributions were for food, party supplies, beverages or event hosting. Here's a breakdown:

• Sea Sea Riders Restaurant ($300)
• Blur Night Club ($500)
• Kelly's ($500)
• Margaret Word Burnside, publisher at Tampa Bay Magazine ($500)
• Beso Del Sol Resort ($493)
• Aaron Fodiman, DFAC board and publisher at Tampa Bay Magazine ($400)
• Dr. Ken Reinhold, DFAC board ($349)
• SportsKatz Media Inc., in-kind T-shirts ($200)
• Waterfront Gallery, framed picture ($98)

She also received almost $500 in services from AdSharp, owned by DFAC advisory board member Bill Francisco, $200 in T-shirts from Sports Katz Media, and $133 in promotional fans from J.B. Edwards.

Spending:

Gracy has spent roughly $12,360 of her campaign contributions, mostly on direct mailing and marketing services with AdSharp.

Here's the breakdown of her expenses:

• Marketing, signage, website: $4,606 at 
• Direct Mailing: $3,617
• Signs and card handsets: $1,588 at Graphic Odds & Ends LLC
• Party food, beverages: $699 at Sea Sea Riders Restaurant
• Postage: $470 at the United States Post Office
• Campaign swag: $529 at Sports Katz Media, Inc., J.B. Edwards and Bayshore Trophies & Awards
• Meet and greet: $225 at Kelly's

For Heather Gracy's full report, visit her online Campaign Treasurer's Report.

Related Coverage:

• City Elections 2012

See Also, David Carson's campaign contribution report.