Tampabay.com
AUGUST 23, 2009

Sansom did not reimburse RPOF, records show

A review of campaign contributions does not reveal any payments from state Rep. Ray Sansom, who charged more than $170,000 on his Republican Party of Florida-issued American Express card during 2006-08.

The ousted House speaker's spending included plane tickets to Europe for his family and items from Cole Haan, Kenneth Cole and Harrods -- items that would be hard to justify as party expenses.

During the same time period Sansom was spending freely, developer Jay Odom was making large contributions to the party. Odom, who has been indicted along with Sansom for an alleged scheme to get $6 million in taxpayer money for an airplane hangar, gave $100,000 on Dec. 31, 2007, and $178,950.42 on March 5, 2008, according to Division of Elections data.

Any reimbursements would show up under contributions. But Sansom's last contribution was before he got the credit card -- $50 on Aug. 28, 2006.

A review of Sansom's financial disclosure forms do not lend any clarity. On his 2008 tax return, Sansom lists $8,042 in business income and $9,500 in "other income." But the accompanying sheets are not attached. Past reports reveal that some of that income could be from his corporation, Ray Sansom Inc. Sansom files a joint tax return with his wife. His taxes are prepared by his brother, Randy, who could not be reached Friday.

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