With little more than two weeks until the Aug. 18 primary, St. Johns County Commission and School Board candidates have collectively raised more than $300,000 between contributions and loans. While most fundraising came from individual contributors, campaign finance reports also reveal contributions from developers, business interests, political committees and elected officials across several competitive races.
Not all candidates have filed their latest reports — figures are current through July 24 unless otherwise noted.
County Commission District 4 — incumbent outraised more than 2 to 1
Retired law enforcement officer Sam Williams has raised more than any local candidate, with $69,700. He has hundreds of individual donors, including a large number of current and former law enforcement personnel. Williams has only spent $24,800, leaving him with nearly $45,000 to spend in the closing days of the campaign. All the candidates in the race are Republicans, meaning the race will be decided in August.
Incumbent Commissioner Krista Joseph has raised $31,900, less than half of Williams’ total. However, she is in a far better position than she was four years ago, when she ousted incumbent Jeremiah Blocker despite being outspent more than 12 to 1. Joseph’s total comes entirely from individuals and $6,000 she loaned to her campaign. Her spending has almost kept pace with Williams, though she only has $11,500 in funds remaining.
Attorney James Galloway has given $7,700 to his campaign, representing 99% of his fundraising, and spent $6,000 through July 17.
County Commission District 2 — Brofford receives business and PAC support, but Pyszczymuka maintains fundraising lead
In the race to succeed Commissioner Sarah Arnold, Heather Brofford is the only candidate with significant contributions from businesses or political committees. She received $500 each from the Committee for Economic Development and Advocates for Business Growth, two PACs funded entirely by Jacksonville law firm Rogers Towers. She also raised $3,000 from gambling-oriented businesses with Jacksonville mailing addresses — Orange Park Kennel Club, Blue Monarch Holdings LLC, and bestbet Jacksonville. Her $16,000 fundraising total through July 17 includes $1,500 from a pair of law firms and $5,000 she loaned her campaign.
Martin Pyszczymuka is the fundraising leader, raising $36,000 and spending $24,000. His contributions are entirely from individuals, including $500 from Commissioner Joseph.
Will McMullan had the most cash on hand through July 17, spending just $9,000 of his $29,000 available funds. He loaned his campaign $27,000.
Tim Burres has raised the least with $14,000. His donors include $500 from Sam Williams and his wife and $500 from a Fraternal Order of Police Lodge in Jacksonville.
Behind McMullan, Pyszczymuka has the next most funds remaining, with $12,000, followed by Burres with $3,400. Brofford has exhausted nearly all her contributions.
School Board District 4 — conservatives contribute to McClafferty, progressive groups back Tozer
Tammie McClafferty has $28,850 in contributions, far more than her two opponents. Her funds include $1,000 from Republican U.S. Rep. John Rutherford and $1,000 from the conservative Jax Good Government PAC, which has backed numerous Republican candidates across Northeast Florida.
She also received $1,000 from the SEKR Trust and $2,000 from law firms, with the rest of her total coming from individuals. She reports $16,200 in remaining available funds.
Jillian Tozer has raised $5,600, including $500 each from two local progressive political committees — Jax Now PAC and Reach Out Florida, a political committee funded in part by $7,570 from the Democratic group Northwest St. Johns County United for Progress.
Leif Jonassen III loaned his campaign nearly half of his $7,650 total, with the remainder coming from individual donors. Among the larger contributions is $960 from Ponte Vedra businessman John Ward, who lost the 2018 Republican primary for Florida’s 6th Congressional District to now-U.N. Ambassador Mike Waltz.
Tozer has spent roughly half her funds, while Jonassen has spent nearly all of his.
School Board District 1 — developers donate to Slough
In the other contested school board race, 24-year incumbent Beverly Slough raised $38,500 through July 17. That includes $5,000 from Jacksonville-based real estate investor Hinson Properties, $2,000 from the PARC Group and its chairman Roger O’Steen, and $2,000 from other land developers.
Slough’s donors also include several prominent education and political figures, including $500 from former State Rep. Cyndi Stevenson, $250 from St. Johns River State College President Joe Pickens and $250 from Florida Association of District School Superintendents CEO and former State Sen. Bill Montford.
Her challenger, Kevin Allen, had raised $17,900 through July 24, consisting entirely of individual donors and a $1,000 loan. He has spent $7,700 compared with just $6,000 spent by Slough, though her finance reports are a week behind.
Meet the Candidates running for St. Johns County Commission 2026.
