PAC money pours into School Board race

Fundraising has ramped up in campaigns for the Sarasota County School Board, and political action committees are pouring more cash into the election than previous years.

The latest campaign finance filings for July show District 3 candidate Eric Robinson has raised $24,400, which is nearly quadruple what sitting board Chairman Frank Kovach received in contributions in his last two election bids combined. Robinson is also on pace to eclipse the campaign fundraising School Board member Bridget Ziegler achieved during the contentious 2014 election, during which she raised $51,532.

Ziegler and her opponent Ken Marsh — who collected about $50,900 in total contributions — each hadn't raised more than $22,000 by August 2014, three months before the election.

Caroline Zucker, the incumbent School Board member running for the District 2 seat, has raised $5,150 in her first month running for re-election. Three $1,000 donations came from entities controlled by Lakewood Ranch developer Schroeder-Manatee Ranch.

The fundraising totals come after Kovach cited the influx of money into the campaign as a reason he did not run for re-election to the District 3 seat.

"In my opinion, the political process has been corrupted by cash — money is king,” Kovach said during an April 21 School Board meeting.  Kovach did not immediately respond to an email inquiry.

Robinson, who hasn't had a fundraising event yet for his campaign, attributed the early onslaught of cash to support from community leaders who have confidence in him as a candidate, as well as the connections he has made in his weighty political career. He previously served as chairman of the Sarasota GOP, has acted as treasurer for high-profile conservative campaigns including that of Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam and is married to County Commissioner Christine Robinson.

Two $1,000 contributions to Robinson's campaign in July came from political action committees Floridians for Fairness and Coalition for Conservative Leadership. Two $1,000 contributions in the previous month came from Floridians for Liberty and Making a Better Tomorrow, and electioneering communications organization Citizens United for Future Leaders also gave his campaign $1,000.

Robinson serves as chairman for four of those political organizations.  Though Floridians for Fairness has been terminated, its final expenditure came to Robinson because of his relationship with its chairman, Frederick Jay Burmer, Robinson said.

"I'm beholden to me," Robinson said, meaning there wouldn't be any shadowy spending by outside organizations.

Coalition for Conservative Leadership, which is associated with District 73 Rep. Greg Steube, most recently received funds from Sarasota-based Drum Circle Distilling, Feld Entertainment CEO Ken Feld, as well as an optometry-focused PAC based in Winter Park and Wal-Mart Stores Inc., among other donors. Steube and District 74 Rep. Julio Gonzales recently toured schools with Robinson in support for the Eagle Academy program, a summer program aimed at reducing learning loss in low-income students and fostering professional growth in parents.

Citizens United for Future Leaders has received more than $100,000 from a Jacksonville-based PAC headed up by District 15 Rep. Daniel Davis this year. The committee donated $5,000 to Booker High School in May, and $1,700 to two other PACs Robinson oversees the following month.

Making a Better Tomorrow has not recieved any donations this year, but collected $10,000 from West Palm Beach-based Kolter Land Partners last year. The committee also recieved $10,000 each from Sarasota's Gabbert Investment Group and Bradenton-based Medallion Homes. Floridians for Liberty has only received $1,000 from the previously mentioned Citizens United for Future Leaders so far this year.

Robinson's campaign has also recieved $4,000 from individual members of the Benderson family.

"(The political action committees) are not spending money on my behalf," Robinson said. "All the money will be under my control" ensuring transparency in the process of campaign spending, and that he's not beholden to companies or individuals that have donated to each PAC, he said.

Robinson, who currently serves on the School Board’s financial advisory committee, said he does not plan on running any negative ads during his campaign, though he does expect to face a candidate interested in keeping the status quo. He said he will largely focus on the importance of the Eagle Academy's mission, district finances and hopes to tackle the issue of smoking on school campuses.

"I’ve been involved in enough campaigns and I firmly believe there’s no reason for a school board race to be negative," Robinson said.