Expensive House race in Lakewood Ranch.

Byline: Jeremy Wallace

The five candidates running to represent District 67 this fall have already combined to raise $392,000 -- about $2,000 ahead of the next highest race, which is in the Orlando region.

Only two other districts have seen candidates raise more than $300,000 for a statehouse seat, which pays the winner less than $30,000 a year.

"It is surprising," said Bradenton's Jeremiah Guccione, one of four Republicans in the contest.

From the start, the race was expected to be costly given that it is a rare open seat battle due to term limits preventing Rep. Ron Reagan, R-Bradenton, from running for re-election. But few, including the candidates, expected the race to outpace the type of money that is more typical for affluent areas such as Palm Beach County, Naples or Broward County.

While the fast growing Lakewood Ranch community on the Manatee-Sarasota border has a reputation of being a little more wealthy, it does not …