On the campaign trail to replace Wengay Newton on the St. Petersburg City Council, Lisa Wheeler-Brown has not avoided being labeled the preferred choice of much of the local Democratic Party establishment. And it’s crystal clear she is the preferred choice of Democratic Mayor Rick Kriseman.
That’s why it’s so interesting to discover Wheeler-Brown’s newest prominent supporter — Republican majordomo Bill Edwards.
Edwards, the mortgage company executive and entertainment promoter who owns the Tampa Bay Rowdies soccer club and manages the Mahaffey Theater, is one of the state’s most prolific GOP political donors. He was a million-dollar contributor to Gov. Rick Scott’s re-election effort and helped finance the 2012 Republican National Convention in Tampa.
Now he’s playing in a St. Pete’s City Council race.
Let me be clear, I am not demonizing Edwards’ engaging in local politics. In 2011, I wrote that Edwards should have been commended, not criticized, for his contributions to City Council candidates.
Edwards’ name does not show up on a campaign finance report of Wheeler-Brown’s; instead he relied on a political committee to funnel his money.
Let’s connect the dots.
On August 5, the Florida Voters Fund PAC received a $5,000 check from Edwards.
The Florida Voters Fund is a political committee administered by Tom Alte, the Democratic campaign consultant whose firm is advising Wheeler-Brown.
Less than a week later, the Florida Voters Fund paid $4,044.14 to Mad Dog Mail, the same direct mail shop working on Wheeler-Brown’s campaign.
That $4K went to this mailer.
—
(I’ll skip discussing the irony of Republican Bill Edwards paying for a mailer featuring Democrat County Commissioner Ken Welch.)
With the money left over after the mailer, the Florida Voters Fund made a $1,000 contribution to Lisa Wheeler-Brown.
Some might find it surprising to see Edwards backing Wheeler-Brown, considering that his right-hand man, former Mayor Rick Baker, is thought to be a supporter of Wheeler-Brown’s opponent, Will Newton. Of course, Edwards and Baker don’t have to agree about everything.
Still, with all the business Edwards has and/or will have before the St. Petersburg City Council, it’s interesting that he is taking sides in a City Council race. Then again, the latest poll shows Wheeler-Brown leading Newton, so maybe that $5,000 check is yet another smart investment by Edwards.
