Jim Rosica
Heavy giving by political groups connected to Florida’s premier business lobby has pushed Republican Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam‘s political committee to more than $3 million in total fundraising.
October fundraising numbers were due Tuesday; figures for Florida Grown PC were posted on its website Tuesday morning but not yet available on the state’s campaign finance page.
The latest report shows close to $700,000 raised in October, with $450,000 of that coming from the Associated Industries of Florida political committee and two other fundraising panels linked to AIF: The Voice of Florida Business and Floridians for a Stronger Democracy.
The 41-year-old Putnam, now in his second term as Florida agriculture commissioner, is widely expected to run for governor in 2018.
Another $100,000 was ponied up to Florida Grown by Skye Lane Properties, a St. Petersburg-based real estate concern.
It’s the sister company to Heritage Property & Casualty Insurance Co., which gave $110,000 toward Gov. Rick Scott‘s 2014 re-election, then reaped a $52 million deal to take over about 60,000 policies from Citizens Property Insurance Corp., the state-run insurer of last resort.
Ed Burr, a real estate investor and chairman of Florida State University’s Board of Trustees, kicked in $10,000.
Other October funders include Disney Worldwide Services ($25,000) and TECO Energy ($10,000), according to reports.
In smaller gives, a group called “GM Trial Lawyers for a Better & Smarter FL” donated $1,500.
That committee is chaired by Gerald Greenspoon, co-founder of South Florida’s Greenspoon Marder law firm, which “defend(s) clients against a variety of class actions brought under state and federal law,” its website says.
Florida Grown also reported about $75,000 in expenses for October, including $62,000 to Silloh Consulting for services and reimbursements. The company is held by Justin Hollis, who chairs Florida Grown.
