Deep Pockets
D: Florida Democratic Candidates/Party
As the dust settled after the 2010 elections, Florida Trend used the Florida Division of Elections campaign finance database to compile a list of the state's top 25 political contributors — and they're not all from Florida. Our analysis includes only direct donations to state candidates and the state's two major political party committees. Donations to federal candidates' campaigns, political action committees and other groups including 527s were excluded from our analysis but are highlighted in our "Top 10" summaries. The analysis also does not include self-funded candidates such as Gov.-elect Rick Scott. Figures are based on contributions made between Jan. 1, 2009,
and Oct. 8, 2010.
|
R: $500,500
D: $0 Total: $500,500 |
Naples
A retired real estate developer and wife of Miles Collier (the grandson of Barron Gift Collier and founder of Collier Enterprises), Collier has donated more than $1 million to political causes in the 2009-10 campaign cycle. She gave $595,000 to Americans for Responsible Health Care, a 527 group that ran ads earlier this year portraying Massachusetts Republican Scott Brown as the nation's best chance to stop Washington's "outrageous" healthcare plan. She also contributed $28,850 to various federal Republican candidates. In Florida, she gave $500,000 to the Florida Republican Party and $500 to Bill McCollum, who was defeated by Rick Scott in his bid for the GOP gubernatorial nomination. She gave $5,000 to Prosperity Florida, a fiscally conservative group previously run by Scott and now headed by outgoing state Rep. Tom Grady (R-Naples).
R: $160,500 D: $149,500 Total: $310,000 |
Greenwich, Conn.
A one-time broker at E.F. Hutton, Jones founded Tudor Investment Corp., a multibillion-dollar hedge fund, and is known for Everglades and other conservation work. The legendary trader, best known for predicting the stock market crash of 1987, has also hedged his bets in Florida's political marketplace, giving just slightly more to Republicans than Democrats. Jones is worth an estimated $6.3 billion. On the federal level, he's given $50,200 to various Republicans and Democrats. He also contributed $15,000 to the Freedom First Committee, Republican state Sen. Mike Haridopolos' 527 group; $5,000 to Working Together for Florida, a committee associated with former Republican state Sen. Jack Latvala, who was term-limited out of the Senate in 2002 but ran for election again this year; and $5,000 to Neighbors Against Drug Trafficking, a committee associated with state Rep. Julio Robaina.
R: $250,000 D: $0 Total: $250,000 |
Fort Lauderdale
The billionaire entrepreneur who made fortunes from Waste Management, Blockbuster and AutoNation gave a quarter of a million dollars to the Florida Republican Party and $3,400 on the federal level, including $1,000 to the Republican National Committee and $2,400 to Shirley Gibson, the mayor of Miami Gardens who lost in the Democratic primary race in Florida's 17th congressional district. Earlier this year, Huizenga's family foundation gave $1 million to the Florida Chamber Foundation, the Florida Chamber of Commerce's research and public policy arm, and he made a $100,000 contribution to Let's Get to Work, the 527 group associated with Rick Scott's campaign for governor.
R: $231,750 D: $2,000 Total: $233,750 |
Grand Rapids, Mich.
DeVos, co-founder of Amway and owner of the Orlando Magic, is worth an estimated $4.5 billion, according to Forbes magazine, which ranked him at 176 among the world's billionaires in 2010. While DeVos gave $230,000 to the Florida Republican Party earlier this year, the usually staunch conservative also wrote checks to a handful of Florida Democrats, including state Reps. Mack Bernard, Betty Reed, Darren Soto and Dwayne Taylor. On the federal level, he's given more than $50,000 to various GOP candidates and party committees, and the DeVos family has contributed more than almost half a million dollars to various 527 groups.
R: $123,000 D: $41,000 Total: $164,000 |
Coral Gables
This Cuban immigrant turned Miami healthcare magnate has given at least $46,800 to various Democratic and Republican federal candidates. On the state level, he's contributed $123,000 to the Florida Republican Party and more than $3,000 to various GOP candidates, including Gov.-elect Rick Scott. He also supported Dan Gelber, the Democratic nominee for Florida Attorney General, with a $500 contribution. He gave $250,000 to Let's Get to Work, the 527 group associated with Scott's campaign.
| R: $0 D: $145,000 Total: $145,000 |
Tampa
An attorney and one of the founders of the MonaVie beverage company, Brink has given heavily to Democrats over the past several years since selling his stock in the company. On the federal level, he gave $4,800 to Rep. Kendrick Meek's Senate campaign, $19,600 to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and $30,400 to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. On the state level, he's given $145,000 to the Florida Democratic Party. He also contributed $15,000 to FairDistrictsFlorida.org, which spearheaded a petition drive to constitutionally change the way Florida conducts legislative and congressional redistricting.
R: $500 D: $111,000 Total: $111,500 |
Jacksonville
A north Florida trial lawyer who made a name for himself representing victims of asbestos exposure, Hogan has given $105,000 to the Florida Democratic Party this election cycle. But Hogan, who waged an unsuccessful bid to take Republican Rep. John Mica's House seat in 2002, isn't completely averse to Republicans. In July, he made a $500 donation to trial lawyer Jeff Kottkamp, the lieutenant governor who made an unsuccessful run for the GOP nomination for Attorney General. On the federal level, Hogan's given more than $100,000 to various Democratic candidates, party organizations and causes.
R: $0 D: $102,000 Total: $102,000 |
Winter Park
A lawyer who specializes in real estate, administrative law and probate law, Swann is a staunch supporter of the Democrats, contributing $100,000 to the Florida Democratic Party and $500 each to the campaigns of Democrat Scott Maddux, who lost a bid for agriculture commissioner, and Loranne Ausley, the Democratic nominee for chief financial officer. He also contributed $1,000 to Alex Sink's gubernatorial campaign and another $500 to her 527 group, Hold Them Accountable. The Orlando native also gave a total of $6,000 to three federal candidates: Florida Democratic Reps. Allen Boyd and Corrine Brown and U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson.
R: $101,000 D: $0 Total: $101,000 |
St. Petersburg
Starting with a $1,500 investment in 1948, Tibbetts grew Cox Lumber and Supply Co. into one of the Tampa Bay area's largest private companies. Tibbetts — who sold Cox to Home Depot in 2006 but recently opened two new lumber yards in the Tampa Bay area — has given $100,000 to the Florida Republican Party. He gave $1,000 to his grandson Jeff Brandes, who won a Florida House seat. On the federal level, he also gave $4,800 to Gov. Charlie Crist's U.S. Senate campaign before Crist left the GOP to run as an independent.
R: $100,00 D: $0 Total: $100,000 |
Dallas
The wealthy investor and son of real estate mogul Trammel Crow gave $100,000 to the Florida Republican Party in June. He has also given more than $120,000 to federal political candidates and causes this year. Recipients include GOP Sen.-elect Marco Rubio and Allen West (R), who ran against incumbent Rep. Ron Klein (D) in Florida's 22nd congressional district.
| R: $0 D: $98,650 Total: $98,650 |
Tallahassee
Senior partner, Ausley & McMullen
| R: $94,000 D: $0 Total: $94,000 |
Orlando
Owner, Wayne Densch Inc.
| R: $0 D: $93,250 Total: $93,250 |
Alachua
Founder, Medical Manager Corp.
Notable: Also gave $10,000 to Florida Hometown Democracy and $68,500 to FairDistrictsFlorida.org
| R: $90,500 D: $0 Total: $90,500 |
Naples
Chairman/director, Churchill Equity
| R: $0 D: $88,000 Total: $88,000 |
Naples
Founder/CEO, Cheyenne Exploration
Notable: Also gave $500,000 to FairDistrictsFlorida.org and $2 million to Hometown Democracy
| R: $82,000 D: $0 Total: $82,000 |
Winter Park
Co-chairman/CEO, Full Sail University
| R: $12,500 D: $56,000 Total: $68,500 |
Delray Beach
CEO/general partner, Heritage Park Retirement Communities
| R: $0 D: $62,500 Total: $62,500 |
Gainesville
Philanthropist; counselor, Alachua County Crisis Center
Notable: Also gave $35,000 to FairDistrictsFlorida.org
| R: $0 D: $61,100 Total: $61,100 |
Brandon
Owner, Meralex Farms
| R: $55,925 D: $0 Total: $55,925 |
Naples
Chairman/CEO, Westbury Partners
| R: $0 D: $52,500 Total: $52,500 |
Panama City
Car dealer/former Florida Democratic Party chairman
| R: $51,000 D: $0 Total: $51,000 |
Miami
General partner, Antares Capital Corp.
Notable: Also gave $75,000 to The Florida First Initiative, a 527 group associated with outgoing Attorney General Bill McCollum
| R: $50,500 D: $0 Total: $50,500 |
New York City
Founder/CEO, Elliott Management Corp. (hedge fund)
| R: $0 D: $50,500 Total: $50,500 |
Tampa
Trial attorney
| R: $0 D: $50,000 Total: $50,000 |
Miami
President, SheerBliss Ice Cream