HD 70 candidate Vito Sheeley fined for sloppy financial records

State House candidate Vito Sheeley this month got slapped with a fine from the Division of Elections for sloppy financial reporting.

The St. Petersburg Democrat blamed the issue on a transition to a new campaign treasurer but doesn’t believe the hiccup will deter his attempt to defeat incumbent state Rep. Wengay Newton this month in state House District 70.

“I was going through a situation where a new treasurer wasn’t up to date on what to file,” Sheeley told Florida Politics. “We needed to get through that, got help on that end, and once the information was updated and ready to go, that was that.”

On Aug. 1, Bureau of Election Records Chief Kristi Reid Willis sent a letter outlining that records due to the state on July 13 did not get filed until July 30. Sheeley was fined $748.45, a levy he must pay from personal funds and not his campaign account.

A report filed with the state shows Sheeley appointed a new treasurer, Sharon Janis, on July 26.

Newton said voters should take note of the oversight.

“Somebody wants to represent you in Tallahassee with $88.7 billion in taxpayer resources and money,” Newton said, “but he can’t even keep a campaign account straight.”

Newton also noted Sheeley earned previous scolds from state elections officers. Warning letters from the state note he failed to file reports or waivers on time in May, June and July. In some cases he was told in writing the oversight would be ignored because he didn’t raise resources, but files later showed he did raise money in the corresponding time frames.

All that results in a lack of transparency for voters who want to see the source of campaign donations, Newton said.

But Sheeley said the major campaign donation issue voters care about isn’t financial paperwork but where candidates get their money, and on that front Newton should face harsher judgment.

“The incumbent is the one who claimed to be a Democrat and who blames not being successful in representing the district on Republicans, but he continues to take money from Republicans,” Sheeley said on Newton.

Newton surprised many when he supported Republican Rick Baker in the last race for St. Petersburg Mayor, a decision that still draws Democratic dings.

Of course, Newton points to other parts of Sheeley’s financial reports to suggest the race is primarily a vendetta. Sheeley earned more than $23,000 working for Democratic Mayor Rick Kriseman’s successful race to keep the seat.

“He’s telling everybody he’s doing this because it’s the right thing to do, but he’s a hired gun,” Newton said.

Newton has raised about $64,000, compared to more than $22,000 raised by Sheeley. Keisha Bell, a third Democrat running for the seat, has raised more than $11,000.

The race will be decided in the Aug. 28 Democratic primary. Because every candidate is a member of the same political party, all voters will be able to vote in the primary.