12-22-2010, 08:43 PM
Sarasota County sheriff's election revisited
By Anthony Cormier
Published: Monday, November 16, 2009 at 1:00 a.m.
Since last November's election, Sheriff Tom Knight has been dogged by allegations that he accepted illegal campaign contributions.
The accusations first surfaced during the campaign but have now landed Knight in the sights of state investigators trying to find out whether he took money from fictitious businesses.
Knight will be in front of the state Elections Commission this week, where officials will hold a probable cause hearing -- one of the first steps that could lead to a more formal inquiry.
The commission is conducting a civil investigation, with maximum possible sanctions of a $1,000 fine per violation.
The complaint -- filed by The Caltrop Watchdog Group, which is made up of supporters of Knight's main campaign rival -- accuses the sheriff of taking money from businesses that were not registered with the state.
Campaign records show that some of the companies that gave to Knight do not exist in a state database.
But many of the businesses were registered outside Florida, which means they had a right to donate the maximum of $200.
For instance, one businessman with a home in Sarasota gave at least $800 through corporations based in Georgia, Ohio and Washington, D.C.
Members of Caltrop, though, argue that, in order to do business in Florida, these companies should have been registered with the state's division of corporations.
The hearing, on Wednesday, is not open to the public.
Knight's attorney, Christine Robinson, declined comment.
The case appears to be the first test of Knight's political career, as the allegations seemed to die after the election but resurfaced after Caltrop members continued to pester the state.
"I would call and get nothing, call and get nothing," said Jim Hawkins, a local reverend who filed one of the complaints. "I finally think we're going to get a fair shot to see what happened."
Meanwhile, detractors and Knight's supporters have sparred since the election.
Several rounds of complaints have been filed, including a recent accusation that the Republican Party exceeded the amount it could donate to a candidate.
The party can contribute up to $50,000 to candidates, and records show it gave $1,000 to Knight. One of the party's local leaders, attorney Eric Robinson, fired back at Caltrop members on the law enforcement message board leoaffairs.com.
"Let's do the math boys and girls," Robinson wrote. "1,000 is less than or more than 50,000? ... It is less than. Good Job. You get a gold star."
This story appeared in print on page BN1
Copyright © 2009 HeraldTribune.com — All rights reserved. Restricted use only.
By Anthony Cormier
Published: Monday, November 16, 2009 at 1:00 a.m.
Since last November's election, Sheriff Tom Knight has been dogged by allegations that he accepted illegal campaign contributions.
The accusations first surfaced during the campaign but have now landed Knight in the sights of state investigators trying to find out whether he took money from fictitious businesses.
Knight will be in front of the state Elections Commission this week, where officials will hold a probable cause hearing -- one of the first steps that could lead to a more formal inquiry.
The commission is conducting a civil investigation, with maximum possible sanctions of a $1,000 fine per violation.
The complaint -- filed by The Caltrop Watchdog Group, which is made up of supporters of Knight's main campaign rival -- accuses the sheriff of taking money from businesses that were not registered with the state.
Campaign records show that some of the companies that gave to Knight do not exist in a state database.
But many of the businesses were registered outside Florida, which means they had a right to donate the maximum of $200.
For instance, one businessman with a home in Sarasota gave at least $800 through corporations based in Georgia, Ohio and Washington, D.C.
Members of Caltrop, though, argue that, in order to do business in Florida, these companies should have been registered with the state's division of corporations.
The hearing, on Wednesday, is not open to the public.
Knight's attorney, Christine Robinson, declined comment.
The case appears to be the first test of Knight's political career, as the allegations seemed to die after the election but resurfaced after Caltrop members continued to pester the state.
"I would call and get nothing, call and get nothing," said Jim Hawkins, a local reverend who filed one of the complaints. "I finally think we're going to get a fair shot to see what happened."
Meanwhile, detractors and Knight's supporters have sparred since the election.
Several rounds of complaints have been filed, including a recent accusation that the Republican Party exceeded the amount it could donate to a candidate.
The party can contribute up to $50,000 to candidates, and records show it gave $1,000 to Knight. One of the party's local leaders, attorney Eric Robinson, fired back at Caltrop members on the law enforcement message board leoaffairs.com.
"Let's do the math boys and girls," Robinson wrote. "1,000 is less than or more than 50,000? ... It is less than. Good Job. You get a gold star."
This story appeared in print on page BN1
Copyright © 2009 HeraldTribune.com — All rights reserved. Restricted use only.