Since 2022 there has been a common theme among Republicans in NE Florida. That theme has been echoed across local, state and federal elections. The theme has been to “Stop Overdevelopment” or “Slow the growth”. 2 newly elected county commissioners in Saint Johns County (Ann Taylor and Clay Murphy) used this as the bedrock of their campaign. This was also echoed by local “kingmaker” Lisa Gaglianese and Flagler County Republican board member Nick DeSantis. Current Flagler County Comissioner Leann Pennington also used a “slow the growth” message during her 2022 campaign. 2x State Senate candidate Gerry James also campaigned heavily on the issue.
Fast forward to 2024 and enter Trump endorsed candidate Randy Fine has entered the congressional race for Florida CD-6. Fine is a newly elected state senator and former Florida House member. Randy Fine is also a fundraising machine, generating over 250k for his Senate campaign. Randy Fine is also heavily financially supported by developers. Were NE Florida Republicans serious about stopping overdevelopment or was it simply a campaign slogan meant to attack an emotional vulnerability among prospective voters? It can only be assumed that if these same loud voices do not oppose Fine’s candidacy with the same fervor that they supported their own candidates, it was nothing more than lip service.
I am enclosing a sample of Fine’s developer and real estate PAC donations taken directly from the Florida Secretary of State website. This list is not inclusive but is merely a sampling of who Randy Fine is.
06/06/2024 1,000.00 CHE MAGNOLIA 1225 ASSOCIATES LLC 1915 MORRIS AVENUE UNION, NJ 07083 10/04/2024 1,000.00 CHE REALTORS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE FLOR 7025 AUGUSTA NATIONAL DRIVE ORLANDO, FL 32822 POLITICAL COMMITTEE POLITICAL COMMITTEE 10/04/2024 1,000.00 CHE REALTORS POLITICAL ADVOCACY COMMITTEE 7025 AUGUSTA NATIONAL DRIVE ORLANDO, FL 32822 POLITICAL COMMITTEE 08/01/2024 1,000.00 CHE REALTORS POLITICAL ADVOCACY COMMITTEE 7025 AUGUSTA NATIONAL DRIVE ORLANDO, FL 32822 06/06/2024 1,000.00 CHE FAIRBANKS 743 ASSOCIATES LLC 1915 MORRIS AVENUE UNION, NJ 07083 REAL ESTATE POLITICAL COMMITTEE
01/08/2024 1,000.00 CHE FECI COMPANY LLC 700 NW 1ST AVENUE SUITE 1620 MIAMI, FL 33136 REAL ESTATE 01/08/2024 1,000.00 CHE FECI HOLDING CORP. 700 NW 1ST AVENUE SUITE 1620 MIAMI, FL 33136 REAL ESTATE & TRANSP
05/22/2024 1,000.00 CHE LSCRB INC 18851 NE 29TH AVENUE STE 100 AVENTURA, FL 33180 REAL ESTATE
02/23/2023 1,000.00 CHE PENCE ROY 3160 DIXIE HWY NE PALM BAY, FL 32905 REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER
10/17/2024 1,000.00 CHE STRATHSPEY HOLDINGS LLC 124 TOMAHAWK DRIVE INDIAN HARBOUR BEACH, FL 32937 REAL ESTATE
08/01/2024 1,000.00 CHE APARTMENT POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE 200 E ROBINSON ST STE 900 ORLANDO, FL 32801 POLITICAL COMMITTEE This list is far from complete, and I spent less than 5 minutes compiling it. If you will notice, every donation listed above is a maximum donation and the total amount of donations in my initial search exceeds 10,000. I challenge all of the candidates and activists who have dedicated 2+ years focusing on development to use the same energy here. If they do not, they should forever be dismissed. Is Flagler and Saint Johns Counties actually serious about overdevelopment or was it just a campaign tactic to influence low IQ voters? Time will tell.
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