Tallahassee dark money political committee (PAC) Sun Coast Alliance is sending mailers to Sarasota County voters to overturn single member districts. Sarasota County voters have a right to know who is trying to buy their vote.
Sun Coast Alliance is administered by William S. Jones and lists its address as 115 East Park Avenue, Ste.1, Tallahassee, FL 32301 (this address hereafter abbreviated as 115 East Park).
The Individual Donor
Sarasota/Manatee developer Pat Neal pumped a total of $750,000 into the “Conservatives” PAC during 2020-2021. “Conservatives” PAC is also administered by William S. Jones and is located at 115 East Park. Mr. Neal stands to benefit from a return to at large voting in Sarasota County Commission races. .
Donor PAC
The Florida political committee “Conservatives” lists a $100,000 contribution to “Serious Conservatives”. The “Serious Conservatives” PAC is also administered by William S. Jones and is located at 115 East Park.
Conduit PAC
There is only ONE political committee registered with the Florida Division of Elections with the “Serious Conservatives” name. It was established in 2020 and is administered by William S. Jones at 115 East Park.
Recipient PAC
In January, Sun Coast Alliance reported a $100,000 donation from a Florida PAC identified as “Serious Conservatives C4” also located at 115 East Park. But, there is no “Serious Conservatives C4” PAC registered with the state, just “Serious Conservatives”. “C4” appears to be either a typo or red herring designed to confuse.
Accounting anomalies!! “Serious Conservatives” fails to list the 100K “Conservatives” contribution, or an expenditure to “Sun Coast Alliance”. Why? What’s up with the accounting here? Mr Jones?
Fact: PAC funding maneuvering is designed to obscure donors. Other notes:
Benderson Development contributed $9,000 to “Sun Coast Alliance”
The “Conservatives” political committee paid Keypoint Communication $57,500 from 11/20 – 1/22. Keypoint Communication owner/director MaryAnn Grgic,is the significant other of Sarasota City Commissioner Hagen Brody. Mr. Brody recently filed to run for County Commission.
Looks like voters can expect a lot more dark money ads trying to get them to overturn single member districts. If Pat Neal’s $750,000 donation is any indication, the dark money slush fund machine is in overdrive.
Verify this research on the Division of Elections Political Committees search page:
https://dos.elections.myflorida.com/committees/
