I am Jon Susce the Publisher of Sarasota Phoenix Media Inc. We are currently being sued by a political operative Anthony Pedicini. Pedicini is using the legal system with "lawfare" tactics to damage or delegitimize Jon Susce and the Sarasota Phoenix. They are wasting their time and money. In using lawfare tactics, Pedicini has access to the $ millions from Pedicini PACs and LLCs and from the Florida Republican establishment centered in Tallahassee. This is a standard tactic deployed to damage or delegitimize their opponents. Mr. Susce and the Sarasota Phoenix needs these vital funds to continue to take on the likes of Pedicini and this lawfare lawsuit.
Lewis
LEWIS MUST GO AND CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION BY STATES ATTORNEY MUST BE INITIATED
THE NEAL AND HIS CRONIES CORRUPT CONTROLL OF THE SARASOTA COUNTY COMMISSION HAS TO END
Barfield
The recent devastating investigative article found in the Florida Trident written by Michael Barfield concerning Hi Hat Ranch, Sarasota County’s largest development project that will add over 13,000 homes east of I-75, is a clear example how criminal corruption exists at the Sarasota County Commission.
This corrupt process is plainly exemplified with this scandalous Hit Hat project. Unless the Trident article was published, due the actions of Sarasota County Administrator Jonathan Lewis and despite a 2021 ordinance requiring the developer to cover the full cost, taxpayers would be responsible for half of the Bee Ridge Road extension to the private development’s entrance.
After the Trident article was published, the Sarasota County Commission voted unanimously to stop work on a proposed agreement with Hi Hat Ranch. The Commission directed staff to cease further drafts of any agreement. The project will not move forward until a public workshop is scheduled within six months.
A CRIMINAL CORRUPT GIVEAWAY TO DEVELOPERS.
The project Lewis put on the agenda to have it approved by the County Commission extending Bee Ridge Road to the private development is estimated to have cost $28 million, with taxpayers covering half—though final costs remain uncertain.
Notably according to Barfield, Lewis did not have Sarasota County staff conduct an appraisal to determine the value of the 24 acres used for the proposed roadway.
Jensen/Benderson/Beruff/Neal
LEWIS JUST ANOTHER CORRUPT COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
A corrupt criminal process under Lewis’s administration has been going on ever since Lewis has been handpicked by Pat Neal and his developer cronies, as the County Administrator.
The only item that has changed since former County Administrator Jim Ley was forced to resign is that Ley’s high public profile be replaced by Neal insisting Lewis exhibiting a low profile to push through their projects.
THE NEAL AND HIS CRONIES PROCESS UNDER LEWIS’S TENURE
This Sarasota County corrupt process ongoing under Lewis’s watch is plainly exemplified with this scandalous Hi Hat project.
The corrupt process begins with the Hi Hat developers’ rainmakers, who are Attorney Charlie Bailey and former Sarasota County Commissioner Al Maio conferring with the County Staff. The staff then proceeds in essentially crossing the t’s and dotting the i’s and sending the proposal on to Lewis.
Maio
Kimberly Horn and Associates being involved with the project and with Maio playing a key role in drafting the terms of the project before the County Commission, Maio's action as a principal in Kimberly Horn borders on the criminaL.
For example, according to Barfield, Maio played a key role in drafting the terms of the land deal on behalf of the developer during a private meeting with county staff in December 2024 borders on the criminal
Shortly after, staff reversed course, recommending terms that conflicted with the clear direction Commissioners had given at a public meeting just six weeks earlier.
According to Barfield, records show Maio was copied on more than 160 emails about Hi Hat Ranch starting in March 2023 and attended multiple meetings with county staff.
Phone records obtained by the Florida Trident also show Maio exchanged dozens of calls with County Administrator Lewis over 10 months totaling more than 5 hours.
Adding to this corrupt County Commission scandalous action demanding a criminal investigation by the local States Attorney is that Maio’s son, Adam, who is vice chair of the Sarasota County Planning Commission, recently performed significant construction and remodeling at the Lewis residence.
Lewis said the construction was needed after damage from Hurricane Ian. A permit indicates the work included a new roof and interior remodel valued at $100,000, according to public records.
STAFF OBJECTION TO PROJECT IGNORED BY COMMISSION
Despite responsible County Staff members objecting to the project, other County staff members recommended terms favorable to Hi Hat developers with Lewis proceeding to put the Hit Hat proposal on the agenda.
Four of the five Sarasota County Commissioners then proceeded to raise their hands in approval of the project and not a word is said, as Neal and his cronies handpicked four Sarasota County Commissioner in the pockets of Neal and his cronies approve the Hi-Hat proposal.
Knight
Sarasota County Commissioner Tom Knight who Neal and his cronies spent over a million dollar to defeat Knight in a recent County Commission voted against the Hi Hat project.
A CRIMINAL CORRUPT GIVEAWAY TO DEVELOPERS.
Barfield stated, despite internal county emails revealing staff strongly criticized the developer’s proposal, warning of severe traffic impacts Lewis put in on the agenda..
The four County Commissioners voting for Hi Hat project in trying to defend their vote approving the project stating they were never informed that the first phase of the project—spanning between Fruitville Road and Clark Road —would increase traffic on a segment of Bee Ridge Road by up to 140%, pushing it below an acceptable level of service is outrageous.
WHY NO DUE DILIGENCE BY FOUR OTHER COMMISSIONERS?
Why is it that only Knight did his due diligence and the other Commissioners just went along with Lewis? It is very simple, all four of those Sarasota County Commissioners are deep in Neal and his cronies’ pockets.
The process how the Sarasota County Commission under Lewis’s leadership is used as nothing more than a rubber stamp for any project Neal and his cronies look for approval of their projects is rather simple.
The Neal political machine in control of the Sarasota County Commission is unlike the Beruff “bull in the China shop” in handpicking County Commissioner to stuff in his pockets to control the Manatee County Commission.
Unlike Beruff handpicking candidates, Neal has a farm system where his candidates “look good in the airport” unlike Beruff picking candidates off the street, who steal potted plants and bounce $10 dollar checks.
Neal’s flunkies gain Neal’s approval for the County Commission by going along to get along with Neal and his cronies at various City Commissions or on the Sarasota County Planning Board before getting anointed for the County Commission by Neal.
After kissing various developers’ rings there are thousands of dollars in campaign donations from the developers to Neal’s County Commission candidates, who are stuffed in Neal and his cronies’ pockets.
Once anointed, the former Jimmy Carter Democrat Florida State Senator Neal, brings in political operative, Mac Stevenson, Randy Neilsen and Stafford Jones to take out anyone who opposes Neal’ handpicked County Commission candidates.
Sarasota, Sarasota County Commissioners Joe Neunder and Ron Cutsinger hired the Jupiter Beach consultant Nielsen and Sarasota County Commissioner Mark Smith hired Stevenson to run his campaign.
Mast/Pedicini/Rainford
In the 2024 County Commission elections Neal brought in Beruff’s political operative Anthony Pedicini to elect Teresa Mast and a failed attempt to take out Tom Knight with Neil Rainford.
Beruff and Pedicini
The Pedicini/Beruff “brutal political machine” in Manatee County, which operates with documented "shady politics and shadier money" has led to all of Pedicini/Beruff candidates going down to defeat in Manatee County, which now sees the Pedicini/Beruff County Commission stuffed in their pocket long gone.
Once elected, Neal’s handpicked Commissioners, as was seen in the Hi Hat project are more than eager to do the bidding of Neal and his cronies projects put on the Commission agenda by Lewis.
Teresa and Jon Mast
The recent elected Mast is the most corrupt of the present County Commissioners. Mast is just like an older former Beruff/Pedicini Manatee County Shit Show Commissioner Vanessa Baugh, who just like Baugh hustles campaign money from the likes of Neal, Beruff, Randy Benderson, Rex Jensen and other developers to get elected and become their flunky.
Antunes
If anyone has any doubt how Mast and her husband, Jon Mast have dirtied up Sarasota County politics take a look at Cathy Antunes investigative report on the Mass’s. https://cathyantunes.substack.com/p/floridas-shady-llc-loopholes?utm_campaign=email-half-post&r=8crz9&utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
NEAL’S 3 H RANCH ANOTHER PROJECT WITH LEWIS FINGERPRINTS ON IT
The 2,700-acre Neal 3 H Ranch proposal is another prime example of Lewis putting a Neal and his cronies project on the Commission agenda, which Neal’s handpicked Commission raise their hands in approval without any due diligence on the project.
Neal's has a deal with the developer John Hales in this 3 H Ranch project, which allows Neal to buy 200 acres at a bargain price of Hales 2,700 acres involved in the project.
For example, since Hales only owns the land and is not a developer, Neal has a deal with Hales to push the project through the County Commission and then be allowed to build the Neal Communities homes on the 2,700-acre project.
Vogler with Beruff before the Manatee County Commission
Instead of using Maio and Bailey as the rainmaker, Neal’s rainmaker in this 3 H Ranch project was Randy Benderson’s "mob" lawyer, Ed Vogler.
Vogler meets with the County staff with the Neal/Hales proposal, who proceed to cross the t’s and dot the i’s on the Neal/Hales project. Vogler then appears before the Sarasota County planning staff, who are appointed by Neal’s handpicked County Commissioners and with minor adjustments on the Neal/Hales proposal it is approved by the Planning Board 7-0.
After the Planning Board approval, the Neal/Hales proposal is put on the Commission agenda by Lewis, which then goes before the County Commission for approval.
The previous Sarasota County Commissioners who were rubber stamps for Neal and cronies' projects placed on agenda by Lewis. (Neunder/Smith/Cutsinger/Moran/Rainford)
At the County Commission meeting, which approve the Neal/Hales proposal, Neal shows up and sits up front making it known to the County Commissioners voting against this proposal will see those Commissioners back in the private sector.
Also, in attendance approving the project were Neal Communities employees and various vendors, who will make $millions involved with the development of Neal 4 H Ranch proposal.
Brodsky
Let’s us make it very simple what went on in Neal 4 H project, the Hi Hat project and various other Neal and his cronies’ projects put on the agenda without due diligence by Lewis and approved by Neal’s handpicked County Commissioners is the reason, why there is a need for the resignation of Lewis and criminal investigation by the 12th District States Attorney Brodsky.
Also, how many projects, while Maio was a Sarasota County Commission for eight years was he in a conflict of interest with projects that Kimberly Horn came before the County Commission to be approved?
Of course, that investigation will never take place due to Brodsky is also deep in Neal and his cronies’ pockets, as are a great majority of the 12th Judicial District Judges in those same pockets.
And of course, if Lewis is fired, the four Sarasota County Commissioners deep in Neal and his cronies’ pockets will just appoint another Neal flunky, as the Sarasota County Administrator.
Welcome to the West Coast of Florida Banana Republic where the SHT buries its head in the sand ignoring the elephants in the room, as Neal and his cronies have been corrupting Sarasota County government for years.
Jon Susce