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Benac Beats McClash in District Wide Republican Primary

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BRADENTON – A 22-year record and several key endorsements were not enough for Manatee County's longest-serving commissioner to overcome a $75,000-plus campaign fundraising deficit and a vicious, developer-funded attack ad campaign. Benac, a planner for Benderson Development, won the closed primary for the District 7 (at-large) county commission seat by 494 votes, with over 25,000 cast.

McClash was still fending off attack ads through the weekend from the shadowy, developer-funded EOC, Take Back our Government, which sent out robo-calls through Sunday arguing that McClash's Sierra Club endorsement linked him to liberals. The group supplemented the effort to unseat McClash with $57,937.96 of additional spending. Benac faces only write-in candidates in November's election.

Votes Percent Funds Raised
Betsy Benac 12,871 (50.9%) $94,483.60
Joe Mc Clash 12,377 (49.0%) $18,142.50

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