A review of State Rep. Michelle Salzman’s campaign spending in August uncovered what appears not to have been for her campaign. Instead, they may have been in-kind contributions to District 4 county commission candidate Ashlee Hofberger.
The Early Voting period for the August 20 GOP primary ran from Saturday, Aug. 10 through Saturday, Aug. 17. One of the most popular Early Voting polling places is Asbury Place at Cokesbury Church, across from Pensacola State College. It’s an important voting spot for District 4 voters during that period.
Salzman did not face an opponent in the primary. However, she did spend money for volunteers at fast food spots near Ashbury Place from Aug. 14 through Aug. 17 – where they campaigned for Hofberger:
| 8/14/24 | 11.71 | WENDY’S | 5685 NORTH 9TH AVENUE | VOLUNTEER FOOD AND BEVERAGE |
| 8/15/24 | 58.21 | POPEYES | 6401 NORTH 9TH AVENUE | VOLUNTEER FOOD AND BEVERAGE |
| 8/17/24 | 34.27 | TIJIAQNA FLATS (sic) | 4970 BAYOU BLVD. STE. #300 | FOOD AND BEVERAGE |
| 8/17/24 | 53.63 | CUMBERLAND | 1290 AIRPORT BOULEVARD | FUEL |
| 8/17/24 | 23.70 | WENDY’S | 5685 NORTH 9TH AVENU | VOLUNTEER FOOD AND BEVERAGE |
| 8/17/24 | 28.54 | STARBUCKS STORE #8542 | 5040 BAYOU BOULEVARD | VOLUNTEER FOOD AND BEVERAGE |
| 8/17/24 | 30.63 | THE FRESH MARKET | 1650 AIRPORT BOULEVARD | VOLUNTEER FOOD AND BEVERAGE |
| 8/17/24 | 45.85 | THE FRESH MARKET | 1650 AIRPORT BOULEVARD | VOLUNTEER FOOD AND BEVERAGE |
| 286.54 |
On the other hand, Hofberger spent nothing on volunteers during the primary, according to her campaign reports. The money amount is not significant but points to the lack of transparency in Salzman’s and Hofberger’s campaigns. Did Salzman’s contributors approve of her spending their money on another candidate’s campaign? Why not use her PAC to do it?
Meanwhile, Salzman spent another $4.9K on her campaign from Sept. 7 to Sept. 20 -$3,855 from her PAC and $1,061. She spent more than twice her opponent, Franscine C. Mathis, who spent $2,016. Her campaign spending continues to be about everything but her re-election campaign.
- The odd expenditure is her campaign paying $500 to a member of the Fort Walton Beach Chamber. Okaloosa County and Fort Walton Beach is not in her district.
PAC
| Date | Amount | Expense Paid To | Purpose |
| 9/17/24 | $ 1,000.00 | DAVID SMITH CAMPAIGN | HOUSE DISTRICT 38 |
| 9/17/24 | $ 2,751.64 | SALZMAN MICHELLE | REIM- SPONSORSHIP, TRANSPORTATION, FOOD AND BEVERAGE |
| 9/18/24 | $ 103.63 | SALZMAN MICHELLE | REIM- CAR RENTAL |
| $ 3,855.27 |
CAMPAIGN
| Date | Amount | Expense Paid To | Purpose |
| 9/15/24 | $ 51.68 | DELUNA LANES | EVENT FOOD AND BEVERAGE |
| 9/16/24 | $ 300.00 | THOMAS BEATRICE C | CONTRACT LABOR |
| 9/16/24 | $ 104.00 | MYSTIC ORDER OF REVELRY, INC. | EVENT TICKETS |
| 9/16/24 | $ 125.00 | MYSTIC ORDER OF REVELRY, INC. | EVENT SPONSORSHIP |
| 9/17/24 | $ 30.03 | SALZMAN MICHELLE | REIM- FOOD AND BEVERAGE |
| 9/17/24 | $ 450.00 | GREATER FORT WALTON BEACH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP DUES |
| $ 1,060.71 |
Photo by Mathieu Turle on Unsplash