A Gainesville-based political consulting firm embroiled in a legal fight over redistricting records received $150,000 in the past month from two committees associated with incoming Republican Senate President Andy Gardiner gave $150,000.
“Space Coast Liberty Caucus” and “Committee for a Better Florida,” have paid Data Targeting, Inc., $148,510 since July 9 for what is listed as advertising expenses.
Both committees’ websites indicate an association with Gardiner, slated to be Senate president after the November elections. Records produced by Data Targeting are at the center of a legal battle whether those they needed to be included in the lawsuit questioning the constitutionality of congressional districts, which lawmakers approved in 2012.
Striking down the maps, Leon County Circuit Judge Terry Lewis compelled the Florida Legislature to call a special session starting Thursday. Lewis used the records during the case, but they are not yet available to the public.
The issue over the public examination of those records now faces the Florida Supreme Court, as the brief was filed by media organizations calling for the documents to be unsealed.
