With Florida Senate President Wilton Simpson, future Senate President Kathleen Passadomo and former House Speaker John Thrasher seated in the front row, State Rep. Tom Leek of Ormond Beach nominates Paul Renner as the next Speaker of the Florida House.
Park
In depth investigative articles by the Daytona Beach News Journal reporter, Clayton Park found that 44 percent of Florida state Legislators− at least 66 out of 159 − have direct ties to the real estate industry. It also found that 100% of Florida State Legislators from Manatee and Sarasota have direct ties to the real estate industry.
The articles are low key Carl Hiassen type of exposes of corruption, money-grubbing and rampant development. The articles target endless: politicians, municipal employees, judges, lobbyists, zoning boards making millions of dollars for crooked developers and politicians.
Hiassen
NOTHING HAS CHANGED SINCE HIAASEN: “TRAINED HIS STINGING WIT ON THE CROOKED AND THE DOWNRIGHT DUMB: THE STUMBLES AND BUMBLES OF THE LEADING LIGHTS AND OTHER RIFFRAFF OF HIS BELOVED FLORIDA”
No one was too big or too powerful to feel the bite of the barbs Hiaasen has regularly hurled from the pages of the Miami Herald in his opinion columns. Not politicians in high office, rich developers or puffed-up celebrities.
The articles honed in on unrepentant polluters, ravenous developers and their enablers in state and local government — often the same corrupt politicians who routinely betray the public trust on other matters.
Wilcox
Ben Wilcox, research director for a citizens watchdog group in Tallahassee called Integrity Florida, said he finds it troubling that so many state lawmakers have personal ties to the real estate industry.
Florida lawmakers with real estate, construction and development ties who are current members of the Florida Senate and House of Representatives are either employed or own a business involved in real estate. Some own multiple rentals or real estate investment properties.
Also included are those who work for developers and construction firms as well as attorneys who specialize in these industries. In some cases, the real estate ties or holdings appear to be relatively minor.
The list also excludes some state lawmakers who might have merited inclusion but were left off because the nature of their businesses and/or sources of income was unclear.
"The Florida Legislature is meant to be a citizens legislature where they have other jobs, but it creates obvious conflicts of interest when you see developers and homebuilders sponsor legislation that benefits their industries," said Wilcox.
Connections include a land-use lawyer sponsoring growth management legislation; a homebuilder co-sponsoring legislation on building regulation; a big developer sponsoring legislation that would take away local control of setting limits on development; and a high-paid executive at a giant development firm co-sponsoring a bill to cap the fees his employer pays for economic impact.
The list includes Florida House Speaker Paul Renner and Florida Senate President Kathleen Passadomo.
Senate President.
OCCUPATION: "Attorney" with Kelly, Passidomo & Alba LLP in Naples.
REAL ESTATE CONNECTION: Passidomo specializes in real estate law. Her financial interests disclosure form shows she earned $36,105 in income from the law firm in 2021. Her assets include two houses and a stake in four condominium units and two restaurants.
House Speaker.
OCCUPATION: “Attorney.” Of counsel with Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP in Orlando.
REAL ESTATE CONNECTION: Areas of practice as an attorney include commercial litigation matters, including construction contracts, landlord/tenant, and real estate shareholder actions. Renner’s assets, according to his financial interests disclosure form, include his home in Palm Coast and two rental properties in Jacksonville. His 2021 income included $197,045 from Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, and $17,356 from Milam Howard Nicandri & Gilliam P.A. in Jacksonville.
Arguably, one of the clearest examples of the influence of the real estate industry on the state Legislature was the passage of a bill that Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law in 2021 that sets limits on how much counties can increase impact fees for new development
The sponsor of the Senate version was Senator Joe Gruters, whose businesses include SJE Real Estate and who owns a large stake in a company called EPR Properties and Sen. Keith Perry,-Gainesville, who owns Perry Roofing Contractors was a co-sponsor. Gruters did not respond to a request for comment to Tallahasse Democrat reporter.
Perry
Damon Vitale, a legislative aide to Perry, said the senator's schedule was full and did not allow him to take the time to respond to questions for this article.
DeGegilie
The House version of the bill was sponsored by state Rep. Nick DeCeglie,-Indian Rocks Beach, now a senator, who owns a waste management company that collects garbage for residents in Pinellas County. The House bill included 11 co-sponsors, the vast majority of whom are involved in the real estate industry. DeCeglie did not respond to a request for comment.
The 100% of Florida State Legislators from Manatee and Sarasota mentioned in the Tallahassee Democrat investigative report of having direct ties to the real estate industry are the following:
Chair of Regulated Industries.
OCCUPATION: "Certified public accountant" with Robinson, Gruters & Roberts CPA in Venice.
REAL ESTATE CONNECTION: According to his financial interests disclosure form, he owns three houses, his CPA firm, a company called SJE Real Estate, and 1.026 shares in a company called EPR Properties
OCCUPATION: "Insurance and investments." CEO of Boyd Insurance & Investments in Bradenton.
REAL ESTATE CONNECTION: According to his financial interest's disclosure form, his assets include an investment property in Bradenton valued at $1.75 million. In addition to his principal business, he also is president of The Boyd Group, a commercial real estate brokerage valued at $40,000, also in Bradenton.
Rep. James Buchanan (North Port, District 74)
Chair, Agriculture, Conservation & Resiliency Subcommittee; vice chair, Ways & Means Committee.
OCCUPATION: "Real estate broker" with James Buchanan Realty in Longboat Key.
REAL ESTATE CONNECTION: In addition to his day job, his financial disclosure form shows he owns multiple properties including "Jamatt Properties" and "Cortez Landings” and a real estate business in Sarasota called "Amerestate Global Investment Group LLC."
Chair, Judiciary Committee.
OCCUPATION: "Attorney, entrepreneur." His business is called Raketes, which sells wooden beach paddles for a game that originated in Greece.
REAL ESTATE CONNECTION: The website for Williams Parker Law Firm in Sarasota states that it "represents individual and corporate clients in land use, development and local government matters" as well as private and public employers in labor and employment law matters and commercial litigation.
Chair, Transportation & Modals Subcommittee.
OCCUPATION: “Navy Reserve officer.”
REAL ESTATE CONNECTION: McFarland’s financial interests disclosure form shows that her assets include investments in numerous businesses, as well as her home in Sarasota and a rental property in Bradenton.
Chair, Civil Justice Subcommittee.
OCCUPATION: “Real estate attorney.” LinkedIn shows he represents clients in land use and local government matters for Blalock Watters P.A. in Bradenton.
REAL ESTATE CONNECTION: Clients include commercial and residential real estate developers, corporations, businesses, individuals and local governments. His financial interest's disclosure form shows his assets include a home in Bradenton, and an ownership interest in Health Care For All LLP, 101 Riverfront LLC, and 920 Manatee Associates LLC.
THE SHT PLAYS UP TO THE CULTURE ELITE WHILE IGNORING HOW NEAL/BERUFF HAVE STUFFED LOCAL POLITICIANS IN THEIR POCKETS
One would think the local Sarasota Herald Tribune, who like the Daytona Beach News Journal is part of the USA TODAY NETWORK would follow up on this major story coming out of Daytona Beach, as the USA TODAY Tallahassee Democrat did. It appears they don't desire to bite the hands that feeds them. They rather cultivate the local culture wars and chase down Proud Boys at the Hollows.
Edwards
They would rather report on Sarasota School Board member Tom Edwards being accused of grooming children, but no in depth investigating how Edwards has jumped in bed with "Pay to Play" developers like Pat Neal.
Porter
By the way, how is it that the SHT has ignored and buried so called Bishop Henry Porter grooming children at his K-12 School for Human Development in Downtown Sarasota for over 40 years?
SHT STIRS THE CULTURE WAR WHILE IGNORING NEAL AND HIS CRONIES
The SHT appears to not only desiring to ignore how local "Pay to Play" developers have local State Legislators stuffed in their pockets, but also Manatee and Sarsota County Commissioners stuffed in their pockets.
Not a word from SHT, as greedy developers and corrupt politicians join together in the wanton destruction of Florida’s natural riches, while making $millions$
Beruff
The handpicked Carlos Beruff flunkies/ The Manatee County Commission
Neal
Neal
The handpicked Neal flunkies: Sarasota County Commissioners
Jon Susce
Working To Keep Us Informed About What They Don't Want you to Know.
The Sarasota Phoenix team is the last guardian in Sarasota of the vital fourth estate. While the rest of local, mainstream media outlets have been overtaken by profit driven directives, the Sarasota Phoenix is the only local media outlet laying bare for all to see how Sarasota local government is operating like a Latin American Junta.
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