Sybrina Fulton campaign to return barred donation for second straight month

The Sybrina Fulton campaign says it will be refunding an August contribution from an organization called “Zion Hill Baptist Church Truth” in order to avoid a potential campaign finance violation.

According to state campaign finance law, candidates “may not solicit contributions from any religious, charitable, civic, or other causes or organizations established primarily for the public good.” Miami-Dade County has mostly adopted the state laws regarding campaign finance, with some exceptions.

Fulton is currently running for the District 1 seat on the Miami-Dade County Commission.

This is the second straight month Fulton’s campaign has triggered a potential violation. In July, Fulton accepted a $2,800 check from big-time Coral Gables donor Barbara Stiefel. That’s more than double the legal limit of $1,000 for candidates in countywide races.

The Fulton campaign said at the time it had begun the process of refunding the money. That refund was listed in Fulton’s most recent fundraising report, which covers August.

That report was due Sept. 10. It also showed the $100 contribution from Zion Hill Baptist Church Truth, which is based in Georgia. When contacted regarding the donation, the Fulton campaign said it was working to refund it and that they did not directly solicit the donation.

Fulton is the mother of Trayvon Martin, who was shot and killed in an altercation with George Zimmerman back in 2012. She is competing with Miami Gardens Mayor Oliver Gilbert III for the District 1 Commission seat.

Commissioner Barbara Jordan, whom the duo is seeking to replace, is term-limited in 2020. She is a longtime political ally of Gilbert’s.

Gilbert has consistently outraised Fulton since she entered the contest in May. He raised more than $23,000 raised in August. Fulton, meanwhile, brought in just under $1,400 during that month.

Overall, Gilbert has banked nearly $350,000 since entering the race in early 2019. Fulton has earned less than a tenth of that, raising just over $30,000.

After expenses, Gilbert maintains more than $270,000. Fulton has less than $24,000.