Update on Rainford's developer money - District 3 BCC Race
From the 7.25.24 Sarasota News Leader:
Rainford’s reports
In April and May, Rainford’s reports show, he pulled in another $20,845 from 36 contributions and spent $27,278.70. Of the latter amount, $25,229 went to Strategic Image Management (Simwins) of Tampa, the report notes, mirroring Mast’s use of that firm.
He received a $3,000 “bundle” of contributions from the airport engineering and planning firm American Infrastructure Development in Tampa; its president and CEO, Sabina Chaudhry; and its vice president, Michael Cummings.
A second bundle, comprising $2,000, came from Bowersox Air Conditioning and Heating in Venice, plus BSOX LLC.
Yet another $2,000 bundle came from James Cox, whose family founded Cox Chevrolet in Bradenton; and Jennifer Lipsey, executive manager of Cox Chevrolet.
The other $1,000 contributions came from Shawn Wilson, president and CEO of Blue Sky Communities of St. Petersburg, which builds affordable housing; the FPF Fire political committee, based in Tallahassee; Voight Brothers Construction in Sarasota; strategic consultant Brittney Metzger of Fort Myers; Give School Kids A Brake, identified as a “school safety co.” in Marietta, Ga.; attorney Anne Corcoran of Sarasota; Brett Hutchens, president of Casto Southeast Realty Services LLC in Lakewood Ranch; and Kaycee Wells, a Bradenton Realtor.
One other point of note in that report is that Rainford’s document shows he received $900 from the Sarasota real estate firm Marsvision LLC, whose registered agent is Mark M. Palmer, as shown in Florida Division of Corporations records. Palmer’s LinkedIn account identifies him as a “content media producer.” In that same report, Rainford listed a $900 payment to “Mars Vision Productions” for campaign photography. Both “Marsvision” and Mars Vision Productions are located in the 4300 block of Independence Court in Sarasota, the campaign finance document says.
In the first half of June, Rainford reported no contributions, but he spent $68,168.20, that report points out. The vast majority of that money went again to Simwins — $67,597. One of the other two payments during that period, $400, went to the Venice CPA firm Robinson Gruters & Roberts in Venice, which is serving as his campaign treasurer. (The Gruters in that firm is state Sen. Joe Gruters of Sarasota.) Rainford raised another $16,900 in cash and checks in the second half, of June, that report shows. He spent only $388.14 during that period.
Of the 22 contributions listed, about two-thirds — 15 — were at the $1,000 level, including those from Beruff’s companies, as noted above.
Among the others who gave Rainford $1,000 in the last half of June were both Rebecca Keiver, president of ROL Insurance Consulting on Siesta Key, and her husband, Ash, a Realtor. In December 2023, Rebecca Keiver won County Commission approval to construct a new home on Siesta property that is landward of the county’s Gulf Beach Setback Line. That line was established in 1979 to protect dunes and beach habitat which, in turn, protect landward structures from storm damage. Rainford voted with the board majority to approve her request for a Coastal Setback Variance, even though the county staff report pointed to a number of policies with which the proposed construction was inconsistent.
Additionally, Andrea Gallo, an architect, designer and engineer in Sarasota; and Julie Lengacher-Taylor, a Lakewood Ranch resident, gave Rainford $1,000 apiece.
The largest expenditure in that report was $200, paid to the Republican Party of Sarasota County for the sponsorship of an event.
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