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The Buzz: Bush offers more donor data than Rubio

 
Republican presidential candidates Marco Rubio, left, and Jeb Bush have identified some of their money-raisers. [Associated Press] 
Republican presidential candidates Marco Rubio, left, and Jeb Bush have identified some of their money-raisers. [Associated Press] 
Published Oct. 17, 2015

Jeb Bush last week released the names of 342 "bundlers" — people who raised a bunch of money from individuals writing checks up to $2,700 — and, not surprisingly, nearly one quarter of them came from Florida.

In releasing the names, Bush shows a lot more transparency than Marco Rubio. Florida's junior senator not only declines to release the names of his top money raisers, but also is benefitting from an anonymously funded group called Conservative Solutions Project, spending millions of dollars on pro-Rubio ads in the early primary states of Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina.

Bush is not exactly the prince of full disclosure either.

A pro-Bush political committee also is accepting donations that can be kept anonymous, though it is not paying for TV ads. And the Bush campaign won't say how much money his bundlers have raised — or reveal who are the heaviest hitters.

There is a big difference, of course, between someone who raises $18,000 and someone who raised $200,000. Hillary Rodham Clinton has released the names of 125 people who raised at least $125,000 for her campaign, and Bush has special designations to set apart his top money raisers: Apollo tier for those who raise at least $75,000, Endeavour for those who top $150,000, and Voyager for more than $250,000.

But rather than reveal his most elite — and influential — donors, the Bush campaign released the names of people who raised at least $17,600, which is the threshold for which federal candidates and political parties must disclose registered federal lobbyists who have raised that much.

Here are the Tampa Bay residents, most of them prominent civic leaders, who raised at least $17,600 for Bush through Sept. 30:

Architect Carlos Alfonso of Tampa, developer Dick Beard of Tampa, investor and former Walter Industries CEO Don DeFosset of Tampa, private equity manager and education accountability advocate John Kirtley of Tampa, state Sen. Jack Latvala of Clearwater, former Gov. Bob Martinez of Tampa, venture capitalist and former Jacksonville Jaguars president David Seldin of Tierra Verde, developer Brent Sembler of St. Petersburg, construction company CEO and former Gov. Bush Chief of Staff Kathleen Shanahan of Tampa, state Sen. Wilton Simpson of New Port Richey, lobbyist Trey Traviesa of Tampa, lobbying firm CEO Drew Weatherford of Wesley Chapel and former Florida House Speaker Will Weatherford of Wesley Chapel.

Here are the federal lobbyists bundling checks up to $2,700 for Bush:

Maria Cino, Hewlett-Packard, $18,025; Matthew Echols, Coca-Cola, $39,900; Richard Hohlt, self-employed, $27,4000; Gaylord T. Hughey Jr., Gaylord Hughey Law, $43,100; Bill Killmer, Mortgage Bankers Assoc., $26,900; and Dirk Van Dongen, National Association of Wholesalers, $24,200.

And here are the federal lobbyist bundlers for Rubio: Geoff Verhoff, Akin Gump, $28,096; Joseph Wall, Goldman Sachs, $40,320; and Scott Weaver, Wiley Rein, $44,324.

Laughing at his critics

Somebody out there really doesn't like Florida Senate President Andy Gardiner.

But not only doesn't Gardiner mind, he thinks it's hilarious. In a tense state Capitol where laughter is in short supply these days, the Orlando Republican enjoys showing off his latest honor that he prominently displays on a wall of his spacious office.

The envelope arrived with a St. Petersburg postmark. Inside was a "certificate of upgrade from half-a - - ed to complete a- - - - - -" for a multitude of reasons, including "your obnoxious attitude, complete asinine juvenile behavior and total dedication to personal gain. … You have become a legend in your own mind."

Politicians often get anonymous hate mail, some of it profane, and they usually toss it in the trash. Not Gardiner. He had it framed so he can show it to visitors. As Senate president, Gardiner welcomes an endless parade of visitors — captains of industry, college presidents, political science students, lobbyists and many other politicians — so plenty of people are going to see his potty-mouthed plaque.

"Sixteen years of service. Best thing I've ever gotten," said Gardiner, who will leave the Legislature next year due to term limits. "Nobody can ever accuse us of not keeping everything."

Gardiner's predecessor, former Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, said he wished he'd experienced Gardiner's good fortune. "I'm jealous that nobody thought to send it to me," Gaetz said. "I'm a bigger a - - - - - - than Andy Gardiner."

Steve Bousquet, Alex Leary, and Jeff Harrington contributed to this week's Buzz.