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Charlie Crist Florida Attorney General

Source: http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/12127257.htm

Crist donations under scrutiny

Finance reports by Attorney General Charlie Crist showed contributions to his gubernatorial campaign that exceed the $500 cap. Campaign officials said the problem has been corrected.

BY LESLEY CLARK AND GARY FINEOUT

Thu, Jul. 14, 2005

Candidates for Florida governor are prevented by state law from raising more than $500 per contributor. But campaign finance reports for Republican Attorney General Charlie Crist contain at least two dozen contributions that exceed the cap.

In addition, more than 1,800 contributors to Crist's campaign didn't list an occupation -- as required of all contributors who give more than $100.

An advisor to Crist said Wednesday that the campaign has returned all contributions exceeding $500 -- but the returns weren't reflected in the latest report because the checks were cut after June 30 when the books closed on the reporting period.

''There will be meticulous compliance with the law and you will see that reflected in the next report,'' said Mac Stipanovich, a campaign advisor to Crist. ``Refunds were issued for every check over the contribution level.''

A spokeswoman for Crist provided a letter that details the returns. She said the letter has been filed with the state Division of Elections.

MISSING INFORMATION

Stipanovich said volunteers are still contacting contributors to determine their occupations, attributing some of the missing information to the fast pace of checks received by the campaign -- ``a volume like drinking out of a fire hose.''

But Crist's rival in the Republican primary suggested that the state's top legal officer should meet the letter of the law, which requires complete reports to be filed within 10 days of the close of the reporting period.

''It's not a discussion of who supported whom; it's question of compliance with the law . . . '' said David Johnson, a senior strategist for Tom Gallagher, the state's chief financial officer.

OVER THE LIMIT

According to a Herald review of Crist's campaign finance reports for the three-month fundraising quarter that ended last month, the campaign accepted a $2,500 check, a $1,500 check and 22 checks for $1,000.

Gallagher's report showed no checks for more than $500.

Johnson said the campaign 'saw some checks for $1,000 and said, `We can only accept $500.' ''

The reporting omission comes as both Republicans aggressively vie for the big Republican fundraisers who for years have had only one choice: Gov. Jeb Bush.

And it isn't the first time that Crist's fundraising tactics have drawn scrutiny. In 2001, then-Education Commissioner and attorney-general candidate Crist reported receiving money before he had opened a campaign account, a violation of state law.

Crist was forced to refile new campaign paperwork that said he had taken the money at a later date, but some of his opponents said Crist had made additional errors.

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See also:

• Take a look at who is giving candidates money
• Crist donations under scrutiny
• Charlie Crist follows the money, loses interest in ethics
• Once critical of free flights, Crist now explains own trip