New campaign finance reports reveal fundraising leaders in Coral Springs commission and mayor races ahead of November election
Coral Springs, Florida – New campaign finance reports released in Coral Springs are providing the first detailed look at the fundraising picture ahead of the city’s Nov. 3 municipal election. The filings show a wide gap between candidates in several races, with some contenders building significant financial advantages as campaigns move deeper into the election season.
The reports, which cover the second quarter of the year and were submitted to the city clerk by the July 10 deadline, reveal that William “Bill” Capplis has established a strong fundraising lead in the race for Seat 3 on the Coral Springs City Commission. The seat became available following the death of Vice Mayor Nancy Metayer, who was killed on April 1.
Capplis reported raising $24,165 through June 30, putting him well ahead of the other four candidates competing for Seat 3. His fundraising total is higher than the combined amount raised by the rest of the field.
Because all five Seat 3 candidates opened campaign accounts during this election cycle, the latest numbers also represent their total fundraising amounts to date.
Capplis, a police sergeant with the Coral Springs Police Department, received support from several public safety organizations and local business interests. His campaign report shows contributions from groups including the Coral Springs Fraternal Order of Police lodge and the Metro Broward Professional Firefighters, both of which contributed $1,000. Several companies connected to industries such as towing, waste hauling, and real estate also provided $1,000 contributions.
The remaining candidates in the Seat 3 race reported significantly smaller fundraising totals. Terry Ann Williams Edden raised $7,221, including a $1,431 loan to her own campaign. Marly Metayer, the mother of the late Vice Mayor Nancy Metayer, reported raising $5,850. Kohy Holmes collected $4,877, including a $2,000 personal loan, while Erick Nyatenya reported $2,099.
The Seat 3 contest has received considerable attention because of the circumstances surrounding the vacancy. Marly Metayer entered the race seeking the commission position previously held by her daughter.
Another closely watched race is the competition for Seat 4, which was opened after Commissioner Joshua Simmons reached his term limit and decided to run for mayor. Jeffrey Adelman has emerged as the fundraising leader in that race, reporting the largest overall campaign total among all candidates on the ballot.
Adelman raised $8,875 during the second quarter and has collected $66,640 since launching his campaign. His total far exceeds the fundraising numbers reported by his opponents.
Jennifer Levi reported raising $4,844 during the quarter, bringing her overall campaign total to $18,906. Tristan Celestin reported $1,460 for the quarter and the same amount overall, with his campaign entirely funded through his own contributions.
A fourth candidate, Melissa Donnahoe, closed her campaign account and did not qualify for the ballot.
The mayoral race also showed differences in fundraising between the candidates. Challenger Joshua Simmons, who currently serves on the City Commission and is seeking the city’s top elected position, raised more money during the quarter than incumbent Mayor Scott Brook.
Simmons reported collecting $15,905 during the second quarter, while Brook reported $10,930. Looking at the entire election cycle, Simmons has raised $29,755 compared with Brook’s $22,930.
Campaign spending also differed between the mayoral candidates. Brook reported spending $4,342 during the quarter, while Simmons reported $12,645 as he transitions from a commission race to a citywide campaign.
In addition to the mayoral contest and the two commission races, Commissioner Shawn Cerra will remain on the City Commission after qualifying without opposition for Seat 2 and being automatically reelected.
The campaign finance reports provide voters with an early look at the resources behind each candidate as the election approaches. With several races featuring major fundraising differences, the coming months are expected to bring increased campaigning, public outreach, and discussions about the future direction of Coral Springs.
The general election is scheduled for Nov. 3, when residents will decide who will fill the open commission seats and who will serve as mayor for the next term.
