NO ONE KNOWS MORE ABOUT THE SARASOTA/MANATEE POLITICAL SCENE THAN THE SARASOTA PHOENIX/NO LOCAL MEDIA "VETS POLITICANS" LIKE THE SARASOTA PHOENIX
The political operative Max Goodman packaged Jim DeNiro between two other packaged 'Pay To Play" candidates (Sydney Gruters & Heida Brantd) out to continue the local political Shit Show
DeNIRO DEEP IN DARK PAC AND CASEY KEY MULTI MILLIONAIRES
AS
GOODMAN's "PAY TO PLAY JOURNALIST" SCHORSCH ATTACKS DeNIRO'S OPPONENT NEUNDER
A deep look into Sarasota County Commission District 4 candidate Jim DeNiro’s campaign financial reports finds, among other dark contributions, thousands of dollars coming from a multi-million-dollar construction company called Willis A. Smith Construction Company, with ties to dark money PACs operating out of the Tallahassee swamp.
LaCivita
A contribution to the FRIENDS OF JIM DeNIRO PAC finds an $8,000 contribution from a dark PAC called the RIGHT CHOICE COMMITTEE at P.O. Box 20252 in St. Petersburg, FL. The PAC chairman is Frank J. LaCivita, who is the President and CEO of Willis A. Smith Construction, Inc.
LaCivita's contribution to DeNiro follows numerous other thousands of dollars in contributions to local politicians and high-paid lobbyists' PACs in Tallahassee to promote those politicians and lobbyists in supporting projects of "pay-to-play" developers like Pat Neal, Carlos Beruff, Randy Benderson, and Rex Jensen to turn the area into Paradise Lost.
LaCIVITA MAKES $MILLIONS AS "PAY TO PLAY" DEVELOPERS MAKE $MILLIONS
As Neal, Beruff, and Jensen continue to build the homes, and Benderson builds the shopping centers to turn the area into another Fort Lauderdale on the west coast of Florida, LaCivita's Willis A. Smith Construction Company makes $millions building the following and many other structures turning the area into Paradise Lost:
- Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
- Everly Amenity Center at Wellen Park
- Ringling College of Art & Design Cunniffee Dining Hall
- Sarasota County District 12 Medical Examiner Facility
- North Port Public Safety Facility
- Waterside Town Center
- City of Venice Fire Station No. 1 & City Hall Expansion
That $8,000 contribution to the FRIENDS OF JIM DeNIRO PAC came from the RIGHT CHOICE COMMITTEE PAC, which also received another $8,000 from LaCivita and a $25,000 contribution from Willis A. Smith Construction Company, funneled into the RIGHT CHOICE COMMITTEE PAC.
There are also over $20,000 in campaign contributions to DeNiro from numerous multi-millionaires living on Casey Key who desire public funding to increase erosion resiliency on Casey Key. N
Neunder
DiNero's opponent in the upcoming Republican primary on 8/17/23, County Commissioner Joe Neunder has questioned the legalities and costs involved in becoming a co-applicant with the Casey Key Conservation Association, LLC, referring to a prior attempt by the same group that was previously voted down by the County Commission.
Neunder's concern with the project is that he does not agree with the County paying for the renourishment and groins since the public, who would pay for the project, would not be able to access these private beachfront properties.
During a March 2025 County meeting, County officials estimated the two-year project would cost $44 million due to rising construction prices.
The $44 million project would allow the high-priced owners of beachfront property to enjoy the beaches, while the public would be barred from enjoying them.
Calls from THE SARASOTA PHOENIX to DeNiro to inquire whether he had met with those Casey Key contributors, and if so, what was discussed, have not been returned.
Three in-kind contributions to DeNiro totaling $2,900 from Casey Key residents Jean and James Parm raise the question of whether that $2,900 was connected to a meeting with those, who contributed more than $20,000 to the DeNiro campaign.
Watkins
THE DeNIRO/WATKINS CONNECTION
It appears the DeNiro campaign could be run not only out of Goodman's office in the Buchanan Building in downtown Sarasota, but also out of the Tampa office of Nancy Watkins, who manages over 100 dark PACs per election cycle out of her office in Tampa at $2,500 a month per entity. That assumption is based on the fact that DeNiro Sarasota SOE site directs callers to Watkins' office in Tampa, which we did.
One of Watkins’s managed PACs is the ARTS ANDCULTURE COALITION PAC. Contributors include among many other "Arts and Culture" UNI Party social elitists Terri Hansen, Kim Githler, Robert Rominiecki and Ian Black.
There is Pat Neal with $5,000, Ronnie Shugar with $25,000 and $25,000 from a dark LLC named Friends of Sarasota's Arts & Culture also managed by Watkins.
Republican operative Watkins' ARTS AND CULTURE COALITION PAC financed the election of Democrats Kyle Battie and Liz Alpert to the Sarasota City Commission.
Contributors to the Arts and Culture Coalition were major supporters of the $121 million Selby Gardens parking garage and restaurant constructed by Willis A. Smith Construction Company.
LaCivita's constructed $121 million Sellby Gardens restoration
DeNiro's patron, LaCivita, stated he "could not be more proud to help secure the final funding that will make Phase One of this iconic Sarasota project a reality." No doubt LaCivita "could not be more proud" to construct the $121 million project.
Ramba "hanging out" on Millionaires' Row at the 137th running of the Kentucky Derby.
The CEO of Willis A. Smith Construction Company, LaCivita, who funneled $8,000 into the FRIENDS OF JIM DeNIRO PAC, also funneled a $6,000 contribution to the STRONG COMMUNITIES OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PAC at 120 S. Monroe Street in Tallahassee. David Ramba – A Lobbyist And enemy of we the People -UltraMAGA Patriots
Neal and Benderson
The STRONG COMMUNITIES OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PAC is managed by David Ramba, a lobbyist who swims in the Tallahassee swamp while serving as the lobbyist for Pat Neal and Randy Benderson.
Ramba not only received a contribution from DeNiro's patron LaCivita, he also received a $100,000 contribution from Benderson into his STRONG COMMUNITIES OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PAC.
Neunder and Smith
The same Benderson has been opposed by DeNiro's opponent, Neunder, and fellow County Commissioner Mark Smith over the construction of high-rise hotels that would turn Siesta Key into another Miami Beach.
Another anti-Smith and Neunder investor in the DeNiro campaign is major Siesta Key hotel promoter Gary Kompothecras, who has placed DeNiro political signs on his properties.
Another Siesta Key resident supporting DeNiro with a $1,000 contribution is longtime political operative Bob Waechter, who has worked for years with the Neal/Beruff/Benderson/Jensen group, helping put politicians in their pockets.
RAMBA, THE NEAL/BENDERSON LOBBYIST WHO CONTROLS THE RPOF
The Neal and Benderson lobbyist, and LaCivita contributor Ramba is the same person who, from his office at 120 South Monroe Street in Tallahassee, manages numerous multi-million-dollar PACs, including the STRONG COMMUNITIES OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PAC, while controlling the Republican Party of Florida (RPOF).
Ramba controls the RPOF as he pulls the strings of Evan Power, the chairman of the RPOF, from his office at 120 South Monroe Street in Tallahassee, where Power serves as a lobbyist employed by Ramba.
Ramba not only has contributions from DeNiro's patron LaCivita, Neal, and Benderson, he also received a $50,000 contribution from a PAC called Building Florida's Future, which is managed by William Stafford Jones, operating out of the Tallahassee swamp at 115 E. Park Ave., Suite 1.
Pedicini's Gang of Seven
Goodman
Jones was mentioned in a recent SARASOTA PHOENIX article concerning DeNiro political operative Max Goodman, who is involved with with former clients of Ybor City political operative Anthony Pedicini's handpicked candidates to be elected to put the Pat Neal/Carlos Beruff duo back in control of the Manatee County Commission. BALLARD/POULTON/RAHN CONNECTED TO DARK MONEY PAC
BALLARD/POULTON/RAHN CONNECTED TO DARK MONEY PAC
Goodman candidates Poulton/Gruters/Rahn with future Goodman candidate Tal Siddique
Goodman is just a party-hardy bottom feeder parachuted in from Maryland to push the Republican Party establishment agenda. An agenda, which includes Sydney Gruters as the future U.S. congresswoman and the election of Tara Paulton to join the reelection of two of Pedicini's Gang of Seven handpicked candidates, Mike Rahn and Amanda Ballard, as Manatee County commissioners.
Spier with his wife Claire
The Republican establishment candidate for the U.S Congress Gruters managed by Goodman is opposed by the Republican American First Eddie Spier.
THE GOODMAN/PEDICINI/SCHORSCH CONNECTION
DeNiro's political operative Goodman's connection to Pedicini is well documented, as Goodman is working together with Pedicini in the Republican establishment's James Buchanan campaign against Republican America First candidate Vic Rohe to replace the term-limited Joe Gruters in the Florida State Senate.
THE GOODMAN APPROACH REPLACES THE BERUFF/PEDICINI APPROACH
DeNiro's political operative Goodman has replaced Pedicini as the political operative for the Republican establishment operating out of the Tallahassee swamp, replacing the Beruff "bull in a china shop" approach.
DeNiro's operative Goodman manages political campaigns out of various Buchanan family operations at 50 Central, Suite 900, in downtown Sarasota.
GOODMAN SELLS THE NEAL KOOL-AID
Godman's approach is to take the softer Neal approach, which Neal used with political operative Mac Stevenson over the years to turn county government into a "shit show" by turning Sarasota County into "Paradise Lost" and stuffing county commissioners into his pocket.
Goodman is issuing a sweeter brand of Pedicini Kool-Aid to the politically naïve in an effort to keep the Neal/Benderson/Beruff gang in control of Manatee and Sarasota counties by electing candidates like DeNiro, who will continue turning the counties into Paradise Lost.
GOODMAN/PEDICINI/SCHORSCH TACTICS TO TAKE DOWN NEUNDER
DeNiro's operative Goodman, like Ybor City RPOF political operative Pedicini, who for years has used Florida Politics publisher Peter Schorsch as an attack surrogate on numerous occasions, has been doing the same for his client, DeNiro.
Goodman hopes that by having Schorsch throw his garbage against the wall concerning DeNiro's opponent, Neunder, something will stick.
SCHORSCH'S PAST PERSONAL AND FINANCIAL HISTORY
While the Pedicini/Goodman hit man Schorsch is now a registered Republican, according to Florida Voice News, Goodman's "hit man" Schorsch has been a faithful Democrat donor since 2012, contributing to Democratic campaigns and organizations such as ActBlue, Obama for America, Hillary for America, Charlie Crist for Congress, Biden Victory Fund, and Biden for President.
More remarkable is that Schorsch's wife is now running former Republican, former Independent, and now Democrat Charlie Crist's campaign for mayor of St. Petersburg, while her husband carries water for Pedicini and Goodman clients. Florida Politics Owner Peter Schorsch: Faithful Democratic Donor & Supporter
According to The Tampa Bay Times, the Goodman/DeNiro attack dog, "Pay-to-Play journalist" Schorsch has a personal and financial history that includes repeated evictions, a car repossession, multiple arrests for driving with a suspended license, and 16 misdemeanor charges for writing bad checks.
The Tampa Bay Times reported In Schorsch's consulting work, "multiple clients accused him of taking payments and failing to deliver services, in addition to leaving thousands of dollars in unresolved obligations".
But his troubles did not end with accusations of fraud and bounced checks. He also had a gambling addiction and owed thousands of dollars to the government and other creditors.
The most damning aspect of Schorsch's career collapse was according to The Tampa Bay Times back then was his break with his consulting firm's founder, Jack Hebert. It was an internal implosion tied to Schorsch grooming and dating Hebert's teenage daughter. Although no charges were filed, the girl was still in high school, and Schorsch's predatory behavior was never fully investigated.
This story regarding Schorsch's personal and financial history was reported not only by the TheTampa Bay Times, but also by NPR's David Folkenflik, Miranda Green of The Floodlight and Jason Dupree of The Florida Peninsula.
LOCAL MEDIA CONTINUES TO THROW "SOFTBALLS" AT DeNIRO ON HIS DARK PAC AND HIS PATRON LaCIVITA'S CONNECTIONS TO LOBBYISTS IN THE TALLAHASSEE SWAMP and
What is a diservice to the voters is that at the recent forum sponsored by The League of Women Voters and the Barancik Foundation-financed The Sunshine Searchlight, media interviewers of DeNiro and the other County Commission candidates did not inquire about any of the issues raised in this article. They simply threw softballs at DeNiro as Goodman smilingly looked on.
NEXT
THE SARASOTA PHOENIX DEEP DIVE INTO THE SARASOTA CITY COMMISSION ELECTION
The Sarasota Phoenix team is the last media guardian in the Sarasota/ Manatee area and beyond laying bare for all to see how the Sarasota/ Manatee area and beyond is controlled by a UNI Party financed by millionaires and billionaires turning Florida into Paradise Lost..
As usual, Jon Susce offers great insightfound nowhere else in Suncoast and State Republican politics." Kevin Wright of the Manatee Republican Liberty Caucus.