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Evers brings in donations
Pensacola News Journal, January 16, 2010
The campaign to replace Durell Peaden in the Florida Senate District 2 seat may be a TKO more than eight months before the primary.
Rep. Greg Evers, R-Baker, has the endorsement of the National Rifle Association and Republican leadership in the Senate as well as a nearly 4-to-1 fundraising margin in his race against Rep. Dave Murzin and insurance agent Mike Hill, both of Pensacola.
"The NRA has been a top priority of mine," Evers said. "I can't say what side anybody's on. I'm just humbled by the support."
Through the end of the year, Evers had $191,395 in cash in his campaign fund. Murzin had $51,481 and Hill had $20,957.
The endorsements are important in the conservative District 2, which covers northern Escambia and Santa Rosa counties and parts of five other counties.
"Rep. Evers has been very active in his support of Second Amendment rights," said Marion Hammer, past president of the NRA and executive director of Unified Sportsmen of Florida. "He's worked hard carrying legislation for us and getting it passed in both cases."
Evers was House sponsor of the controversial guns-at-work law passed in 2008, as well as the 2006 hunter-voter bill that required sellers of hunting and fishing licenses to offer voter-registration cards.
"Rep. Murzin has not been strong on our issues," Hammer said. "He has at times given lip service."
On the guns-at-work legislation, Hammer said, "We were told by numerous people he was working against us behind the scenes."
Murzin defended his gun-rights record.
"Surprise, surprise," Murzin said of the endorsement, attributing it to Evers' personal relationship with NRA lobbyists.
Murzin, an NRA member himself, said he has an A rating from the NRA as a lawmaker.
"There is no clear difference between Greg Evers and me on Second Amendment rights," he said.
Murzin voted for both bills Evers sponsored, though he did withdraw his co-sponsorship of the guns-at-work law.
"That bill pitted two constitutional rights against each other," Murzin said.
Murzin supported the Florida Chamber of Commerce and other business interests that argued the law allowing employees to keep guns locked in their vehicles at work was a violation of private-property rights
Jerry Maygarden, who was Republican majority leader in the House when he represented Pensacola, said the endorsements put Evers' opponents in a tough position.
Murzin was a Maygarden aide in the Legislature.
"The NRA carries a lot of clout. They don't have a whole lot of flexibility. You're either for them or against them. I'm sure Dave's siding with the chamber didn't sit well with them," Maygarden said.
But Murzin said he anticipates support from other gun-rights organizations.
"The NRA is not the only game in town," he said. "They are the biggest dog, but they are not the only one."
Billboards now up in the district feature Evers in the NRA's "I'm the NRA" membership campaign. The campaign is being run by the NRA's general operations unit, separate from its political committees.
Evers also has the endorsement of Republican leadership in the Senate.
Those supporters include Sen. Mike Haridopolos of Merritt Island, who's set to become president after this fall's elections, and Sen. Don Gaetz, who is trying to follow him in 2012.
Murzin said his lagging fundraising is a disadvantage, but he will rely on extensive door-to-door campaigning.
"Overall, I'm at a disadvantage when it comes to money," said Murzin. "I remind myself that people vote and money does not."
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