No matter the outcome of the Pensacola mayor's race next week, it will likely go down in history as the most expensive mayor's race in the city's long history — and that was before the race attracted the interest of Tallahassee-based political action committees.

The two candidates running for Pensacola mayor have raised nearly $425,000 collectively. That number is more than double the $195,760 raised during the first "strong mayor" race in 2010 between the five candidates who filed to run at that time.

Pensacola City Councilman Brian Spencer has out-raised Escambia County Commissioner Grover Robinson by more than $90,000, for a campaign chest of $258,164.

Robinson has raised $166,747 for his campaign.

Most of the fundraising and spending occurred during the Primary Election when the race was narrowed down from a pool of six candidates. Since the primary on Aug. 28, Spencer has raised more than $93,300 and Robinson has raised more than $44,300.

Spencer's campaign spent more than $56,000 last week alone, with $30,000 spent with Maryland-based Mentzer Media Services Inc. for a media buy.

Robinson's campaign hasn't spent much — just $5,000 — during the general election, but during the primary the largest amount of spending came during the week before the election when he spent $52,000 with Pensacola's Duncan McCall public relations and marketing company.

With more than $77,000 cash on hand, Robinson has the money to do the same thing ahead of the general election on Nov. 6.

Spencer has just $29,408 left in his campaign account.

But the candidates' campaign money is not the only money in the race.

A statewide political action committee has gotten involved in the race and is sending out flyers attacking Robinson for taking a salary during his 12 years on the commission.

County Commissioner's salaries are set by the state and are not a local decision.

The political action committee sending out the flyers — Citizens for Integrity in Government — could be an example of what critics call "dark money" PACs, which are meant to obscure large donations often to fund attack ads of which a candidate may not want to be publicly associated.

Nearly all of Citizens for Integrity in Government's $459,750 in contributions during 2018 have come from other PACs.

For instance, the Florida Alliance For Better Government PAC contributed $141,000 to Citizens for Integrity in Government in two payments in August.

Florida Alliance For Better Government raised about $84,000 in donations from companies and individuals with Pensacola addresses, including at least three who have also contributed directly to Brian Spencer's campaign.

One name stands out in particular, the Spencer Law firm, owned by Spencer's wife Crystal Spencer. The law firm made two donations of $10,000 each, one on July 11 and one on Oct. 4.

Spencer Law also made a donation directly to Brian Spencer's campaign of $1,000 on June 22.

Jerre Peacock, wife of former DIB chairman John Peacock, contributed $10,000 to the PAC and $2,000 directly to Spencer's campaign. Jeremiah Talbott contributed $10,000 to the PAC, as well as $3,000 directly to Spencer's campaign.

Crystal Spencer told the News Journal on Monday that she donated to Florida Alliance For Better Government because the PACs chairman Screven Watson, a political consultant and former executive director of the Florida Democratic Party, asked for the donation.

"Screven Watson has been a long-time friend and fundraiser in the state on issues I agree with and he asked for a contribution," Crystal Spencer said in an email. "I have no control over how Florida Alliance for Better Government distributes its money."

Pensacola City Councilwoman Sherri Myers, who has endorsed Robinson for mayor, told the News Journal she has never seen involvement of a statewide PAC in a city election.

"This is shocking beyond belief," Myers said. "… This kind of activity will make it very difficult for people who do not have a lot of money, and 'dark money' PACs behind them to run for political offices in the city of Pensacola."

Jim Little can be reached at jwlittle@pnj.com and 850-208-9827.