Just when you think Andrew Gillum is having a good day …
Andrew Gillum calls a bill banning sanctuary cities “likely unconstitutional” and would tear families apart.

CRA 04 ps 071917

On Tuesday, Florida Politics reported that Hollywood stars Alec Baldwin and Alyssa Milano are headlining a California fundraiser for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum.

Tallahassee’s mayor is one of three candidates raising money at the Thursday reception; Stacey Abrams of Georgia and David Garcia of Arizona are joining the event, which will also benefit Gillum’s associated PAC, Forward Florida.

For Gillum’s cash-starved campaign, its excellent news that Baldwin, Milano and Co. are raising money for him at the Santa Monica home of entertainment industry lawyer Skip Brittenham and his wife, actress and author Heather Thomas.

Yet, just when you think Gillum is having a good day, he goes and “Gillums” himself again.

Look closely at the fundraising invitation his campaign shared in advance of the event:

What don’t you see?

That’s right; there’s no disclaimer on the invite. There’s no “paid political blah blah blah” anywhere to be found.

Is this a big deal? Normally, it wouldn’t be, but Gillum — from the very day he launched the campaign — has revealed a weakness for not being able to dot the I’s and cross the T’s.

This invitation is just another indication of Gillum’s sloppy campaign. And it reinforces the worst impressions some folks have of the candidate.

Florida Politics reached out to Gillum’s campaign for an explanation. Spokesman Geoff Burgan said “both PFAW (People for the American Way) attorneys and Stearns Weaver attorneys who represent our campaign have approved the invite. We’re confident the invite is within bounds.”

Nancy Watkins, one of the nation’s foremost experts on campaign finance regulations, disagrees with the assessment of Gillum’s attorneys.

“His campaign and committee are subject to Florida campaign finance law which has specific requirements for disclaimers,” said Watkins, who was asked by Florida Politics to review the invitation. “The invitation presented does not even approach the Florida requirements for Andrew Gillum Campaign nor Forward Florida.”

That’s only the beginning of the problems Watkins has with the Gillum invite.

“It appears they are soliciting contributions through a conduit, People for the American Way,” Watkins said, noting that the invite asks donors to contribute via ActBlue. “PFAW may not act as a conduit for contributions to a Florida candidate or committee. No one can.”

In making her case, Watkins cites FS 106.08(5)(a), which reads, ”A person may not make any contribution through or in the name of another, directly or indirectly, in any election.”

She also said the Division of Elections has issued opinions (D10-11 and DE08-03) regarding conduits, specifically Act Blue.

***Update***After Watkins’ opinion was added to this story, Glenn Burhans, an attorney with Stearns Weaver, emailed this statement:

“The assertion that the campaign has violated Florida election law is based on errors of fact and law. The invitation, which was emailed by PFAW to a select group of its members at no cost does not meet the definition of a “political advertisement” and does not require a disclaimer. Similarly, it does not meet the definition of any other form of communication requiring a disclaimer. Neither PFAW nor Act Blue are acting as an improper conduit. When clicking on the link to donate, the donor specifies the recipient of the donation, i.e., a candidate’s campaign or political committee. In short, such contributions are not made in the name of another as asserted in the article. The statute and advisory opinions cited simply do not apply here.”

Don’t you just love a food fight over Florida campaign finance law?

Peter Schorsch

Peter Schorsch is the President of Extensive Enterprises and is the publisher of some of Florida’s most influential new media websites, including Florida Politics and Sunburn, the morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics. Schorsch is also the publisher of INFLUENCE Magazine. For several years, Peter's blog was ranked by the Washington Post as the best state-based blog in Florida. In addition to his publishing efforts, Peter is a political consultant to several of the state’s largest governmental affairs and public relations firms. Peter lives in St. Petersburg with his wife, Michelle, and their daughter, Ella.


4 comments

  • Domino

    March 14, 2018 at 1:05 pm

    Gillum wants to make the rules, not follow them!

  • Stall

    March 14, 2018 at 1:38 pm

    Most of his support seems to be coming out of state. The campaign and election is garnering a lot of media attention. Jon Ossoff had the same issue.

  • Richard Paul Dembinsky

    March 14, 2018 at 8:37 pm

    This article is more of the same……….YOU should run for Governor…and attempt to comply with the unfair and unconstitutional Chapter 106, Dealing with the Division of Elections, and the political group of 9 (5 Republicans and 4 Democrats) is tough enough…Then run as an Independent and they will find fault with an 8 day campaign zero contributions zero expenditures…Filed a TERMINATION REPORT IN 10 DAYS BUT THE DIVISION OF ELECTIONS COMPUTER CANNOT BELIEVE THE ZERO . SEE 16-587 STOP PICKING ON CANDIDATES…LET THE DIVISION OF ELECTIONS DO WHAT THEY DO TO INDEPENDENTS…THEN FOR SURE WITHOUT LOOKING AT THE FACTS…THE ABUSIVE FLORIDA ELECTIONS COMMISSION WILL FINE ANDREW GILLUM $1000 …SO WHAT…IT IS ALL KNOWN THAT REPUBLICANS WROTE THE LAWS.,…ONLY REPUBLICANS CAN BE LISTED AT THE TOP OF ALL BALLOTS IN FLORIDA….UNFAIR. JUST LIKE THE 2011 GUN LAW PROHIBITING CITIES FROM CONTROLLING ACTIONS IN CITY PARKS. YOU DON’T EVEN REALIZE THAT LAWS HAVE BEEN WRITTEN TO STOP CITIES FROM CONSTRUCTING WATER MAINS WITH THEIR OWN PUBLIC WORKS / UTILITIES WORKERS…UNFAIR…UNCONSTITUTIONAL….BUT YOU DON’T CRE.

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