Powerful Florida House member sidesteps fundraising ban

TALLAHASSEE — Like his colleagues, Rep. Stan Mayfield is not allowed to raise campaign money when the Florida Legislature is in session, because of the perception that lawmakers would be trading votes for donations.

But that has not stopped lobbyists and corporations with business before the Vero Beach Republican from giving $96,000 to his political committee since the session began in March.

Mayfield, a powerful committee chairman who wants to be Florida's next agriculture commissioner, legally sidesteps the fundraising ban by steering those unrestricted donations to a political committee known as a 527, a reference to the section of the IRS code that regulates such committees.

They are not affected by the ban on fundraising during sessions and are not subject to the state's $500 contribution limit that applies to legislators' own campaigns.

Progress Energy gave $20,000, for example. Another $20,000 came from Florida Power & Light. Prominent Tallahassee lobbyist Wade Hopping gave $10,000.

Mayfield said he has stepped down from the group during session and insists he has paid no attention to donors.

"I've stayed away from it," he said.

But the watchdog group Common Cause says Mayfield is abusing the spirit of the campaign finance rules. "The fact he resigned is a very superficial attempt to seem he is not fundraising during session," said executive director Ben Wilcox.

One of Mayfield's potential challengers in the 2010 race said the committee raises questions.

"It just doesn't pass the smell test," said Sen. Carey Baker, R-Eustis. "There's a possible perception — and I'm not suggesting Rep. Mayfield is doing this at all — that you are selling your vote."

Since it was established in March 2007, Mayfield's Families for Tax Relief has taken in $226,000, according to records posted on the group's Web site.

Chairman of the Environment and Natural Resources Council for the past two sessions, Mayfield has been in control of major legislation and some of the contributors have interests that fall before him. A month before the session began, for example, U.S. Sugar Corp. and a citrus subsidiary gave a combined $20,000.

Lobbyist Ron Book gave $5,000 but said it was before the session. "I won't give money during the session. I know it to be the rule."

Book was among the group of lobbyists who successfully amended a key energy bill to remove stricter auto emission standards like the kind in California. Mayfield was sponsor of the bill, which unanimously passed the House on Tuesday.

Despite temporarily relinquishing control of the political committee, Mayfield's name still appears on the Web site as chairman and founder. On March 25, he was reimbursed $82.89 for meals.

He said he would retake control of the committee after session and did not rule out using money for his own campaign.

"If I get in a race, we'll see if there's any of it left," Mayfield said, adding he will use the money to push for property tax relief.

Mayfield, 52, is tall, white-haired representative with an easy demeanor. He draws respect from both sides of the aisle.

And he is certainly not the only lawmaker to use a 527.

But his leadership role in the House and future ambitions draw notice. Forced from office this year due to term limits, Mayfield planned to run for congress in November but backed out in deference to Sen. Bill Posey, R-Rockledge.

Mayfield is now focusing on the agriculture commissioner race, though he has not officially declared his candidacy.

The race is wide open because incumbent Charles Bronson cannot seek another four-year term. Several Republicans are lining up, and the scuttlebutt is Democratic U.S. Rep. Allen Boyd is, too.

If Mayfield were a state senator, his 527 committee would have to shut down for the session. The House used to adhere to that rule but quietly changed direction in 2006, removing a ban on indirect solicitations for political committees. As a result, Mayfield's 572 can still take in money, just not under his direction.

Though he sent a letter of resignation to his accountant, Mayfield has not withdrawn his name as a solicitor with the Florida Department of State.

Mayfield said the committee is designed to push for property tax relief. But expense reports indicate he has used it sparingly, about $58,000.

Nearly half of that was a donation in January to another political committee, Truth for Our Community, which fought a slot gambling proposal in Miami-Dade.

Another $11,000 went to McLaughlin & Associates, a firm that did polling in the slots campaign. Mayfield said he thinks the polling was for Amendment 1, the property tax proposal voters approved on Jan. 29.

The last reported expenses were April 1, which included $6,020 for consulting the Web site and $291 for accounting services.

Times Tallahassee Bureau chief Steve Bousquet contributed to this report.