This post re-posted in it's entirety HERE.
UPDATE: 3-7-07 I am editing the title to this article NOT because I believe it to be misleading but because Ms. Brown felt it was misleading and asked nicely. Well, AND she threatened legal action which does not bother me in the least; the saying please was what got me to call a few folks and take opinions ... However, though it is splitting fine hairs and I took my title exactly from the Tampa Tribune article --- instead of it reading "Julie B being investigated for Kuhn donations" --I'll say "Kuhn being investigated for Julie Brown donations." So be it. I'm not sure how you can investigate one half a transaction. He did something wrong, perhaps. Perhaps she went along with it. I think that's all that was said. There's an investigation starting that may lead to an investigation.
That's not my fault, now is it?
State Is Investigating Car Dealer's Donations To Council Candidate
By JOSH POLTILOVE The Tampa Tribune
Published: Feb 20, 2007
TAMPA - With almost $115,000 in her campaign coffers, first-time candidate Julie Brown is helping drive the most expensive race for Tampa City Council.
But questions linger over thousands of dollars she took from employees of a car dealer whose expansion project was rejected by council members, including Brown's main opponent.
(Kuhn bought Lindell Honda or they are associated in some way. Lindell is former Mayor Dick Greco's employer, according to recent information published by the Tampa Tribune -- take that for what it's worth) This is also interesting. And this.
excerpt from web search for kuhn which I posted earlier this week)
(Lindell Volkswagen - Tampa, FL , car dealer, Volkswagen, New ...
A Tampa, FL , Volkswagen dealer making shopping for a new or used Volkswagen car easy. Search our car listings, send a price quote request, see our prices, ...
www.kuhnvw.com/ - 24k - Cached - Similar pages)
State investigators say they are reviewing a resident's complaint that automobile dealer Jason Kuhn may have funded contributions from his employees and their relatives. Florida law caps individual contributions at $500 and prohibits making donations in someone else's name.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has not launched an official investigation into last week's complaint, and no timetable has been set for doing so, spokeswoman Trena M. Reddick said.
"These things take time, and it has to meet our investigative strategy," she said. "We gather a lot of information, and it may never result in an investigation."
Kuhn could not be reached for comment.
Brown, a former Tampa assistant city attorney, said she thinks the donations were proper. She said Kuhn told her he had done "nothing shady."
Brown said Kuhn invited her to a December fundraiser at Kuhn Honda-Volkswagen on Kennedy Boulevard, where she spoke to about 40 of his employees. She said she spoke to Kuhn's staff four or five times on the need for change on the city council.
WOW. Four or five times for ONE business???
Whew, that's alot of visits .... they sure are concerned about city council, wonder why??
William Henz, a Kuhn sales manager, attended the fundraiser and gave $500. Henz said his boss is "a caliber guy" and didn't force him to contribute to Brown's District 4 campaign or give him the money to do so.
"Having Julie Brown would be a proverbial breath of fresh air," said Henz, of Lutz.
A month before the fundraiser, the council denied Kuhn's plan to replace a Kennedy strip center with a used-car lot.
Councilman John Dingfelder, who is running for re-election against Brown and Joseph V. Citro, dropped his initial support for Kuhn's plan after neighbors objected.
Richard Reavis, who was among the residents opposed to the car lot project, said he spoke to a state investigator last week about the contributions from Kuhn employees.
As of Friday's campaign finance reporting deadline, Brown trailed Dingfelder by about $20,000. Citro had raised about $8,000.
Questions also have been raised about Dingfelder's fundraising. Last week, he apologized to a constituent for seeking a contribution minutes after they discussed city business.
Dingfelder and Brown also recently blamed clerical errors for mailings they sent to city hall soliciting contributions, a potential violation of state elections law.
And, maybe it's just ME but I only remember reading this above information about Dingfelder from the Tampa Tribune. It's possible Brown was mentioned in an offhand way but all the bad publicity I remember reading centered on Dingfelder. So, now we have two candidates possibly violating state laws but only ONE candidate being investigated for possibly accepting unethical donations from one guy who wants to influence city hall for his benefit. So --- this makes the developer's angel picture I painted earlier a bit more clear.
Brown said she doesn't know exactly how much her campaign received from Kuhn employees and their relatives, but estimates it was several thousand dollars.
"If there was any unethical action, I'd be more than happy to return the checks," she said.
Kuhn employee Karen Rochester said she contributed $500 to Brown in December because she thinks Brown would better serve businesses as a council member. The New Port Richey resident said she donated her own money freely.
"I just don't understand all the rigamarole," Rochester said. (I get the feeling she is a bit of an ingenue.....)
Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at (813) 835-2105.
ADDENDUM:
ROAD TO CITY HALL
Host Pulls Switcheroo
A builder's Tampa City Council fundraiser on Monday afternoon is expected to have a surprise guest: District 4 candidate Julie Brown.
Originally her opponent, incumbent John Dingfelder, was invited to attend the fundraising event along with one other candidate from each city council race. But Brown was called Monday morning and invited to attend instead of Dingfelder.
"I'm just excited by the positive change and support," she said.
Brown said she had no idea why Riverview builder Charles "Bing" Kearney changed his mind and invited her instead. (Kearney is VERY CLOSE with Sheriff David Gee and I'm not sure but suspect this could have a bit of influence on events I have highlighted in my blog)
Messages left at Kearney's office were not returned Monday.
At the fundraising event, $500 donations are suggested for each candidate. (isn't this getting redundant????)
Josh Poltilove
I just wanted to ruminate on this: WHY IS IT that the cheerful employees of Kuhn can be reached for their delighted opines but that major players such as Kuhn and Kearney canNOT? That's kinda odd, huh?? You'd think they'd want to get their position out there, eh?? AND from Wayne Garcia at Blurbex
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