One of the best articles the Sarasota Phoenix has published. It needs to be this long. You break it up, it loses its continentality. The article exemplifies how totally corrupt Florida politics operates. It has been a totally corrupt Deep State operation for years. Jon Susce is by far the best political writer, who covers this area. No one knows the players or politically history, as he does.
Neal
Pedicini/DeSantis/Beruff/Power
THE DEEP STATE FLORIDA REPUBLICAN PARTY OLIGARCHY MEETS MAJOR RESISTENCE IN MANATEE COUNTY
These freedom fighters are being purged by the Florida Republican Party oligarchy based in the Tallahassee swamp led by Deep State lobbyists for taking out Manatee County Commissioners in the pockets of “Pay to Play” developers.
Thes freedom fighters have seen the once over 150-member Manatee County Republican Party Executive Committee (MREC) being purged and replaced by the Tallahassee based RPOF handpicked members. At a recent MREC meeting organized by the Tallahassee-based RPOF oligarchy, only 15 selected RPOF members attended. Present was an unelected Chairman and other unelected officers, who approved their over $90,000 in the treasury to be managed by an unnamed entity in Tallahassee.
This Florida based oligarchy is a form of government or power structure in which authority is concentrated in the hands of a small group of individuals. A small group holds power, and most people have little say in decisions, with politics serving the interests of the elite instead of the majority.
Flynn
It is a new ism, which retired General Michael Flynn speaks about in a recent speech in New York City. It is like communism and fascism, and far from turning Florida into a Free State of Florida.
This Deep State Florida Republican Party oligarchy operating out of the Tallahassee swamp is similar to the Chinese CCP oligarchy, which is new type of ism that has emerged in the Florida Republican Party and beyond.
Jensen/Benderson/Beruff/Neal
An oligarchy that has in Manatee County near criminal Mafia type “families” like the Pat Neal, Carlos Beruff, Randy Benderson, and Rex Jensen “families.” These “families” control the Governor, State Legislators, States Attorney, Sheriffs, and judges in Manatee and, Sarasota Counties and beyond.
Buchanan
These near Mafia crime type families, which now include the powerful Vern Buchanan political organization have come together to take out the Manatee freedom fighters seeking the end the years of near corrupt criminal activity existing in Manatee County.
An oligarchy, which Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Legislature stuffed in the pockets of a “Pay to Play” developers with the assistance of the Florida judicial system have made it a major priority to purg Manatee County Commissioners and other freedom fighters.
Republican Manatee County Commissioners, who has been elected by a vast majority of Manatee County voters and has enacted legislation mandated by the residents of Manatee County to provide a quality of life is being threatened with removal if they move forward on legislation concerning “Pay to Play” developers unrestricted building practices.
These Republican Manatee County Commissioners, who are threatened to be purged by this corrupt oligarchy now operating out of the Tallahassee swamp defeated the handpicked candidates of the “Pay to Play” developers in 2024, who have turned Manatee County into a total Shit Show.
This emerging oligarchy Florida is based in the Tallahassee swamp where lobbyists are found in control of day-to-day operations of the Republican Party of Florida (RPOF).
Teague/Power/Helmich
Those in leadership positions in this emerging oligarchy are the RPOF Chairman Evan Power arrested for drunken driving, RPOF Executive Director of the RPOF Bill Helmich, and the fired prison guard Jovante Teague who is Vice Chairman of the RPOF.
It is scandalous and near criminal that Power and Helmich are lobbying for a multimillion-dollar Michigan firm to sell marijuana to adults in Florida, while at the same time Power is being paid $200,000 as Chairman of the RPOF and Helmich is being paid $85,000, as the Executive Director of the RPOF. Lume Hemp Company - 2025 Legislative Principal Detail - tLobbyist Registration
Ramba the de facto leader of the Deep State of Florida Republican Party on the right
of two Florida State Legislators
Power can be found lobbying at the Deep State David Ramba Consulting office at 120 South Monroe Street in Tallahassee, while Helmich does his lobbying at another office on 120 South Monroe Street. Power's boss Ramba is the de facto Chairman of the Deep State Florida Republican Party operating out of his Tallahassee office. David Ramba – A Lobbyist And enemy of we the People - Ultra MAGA Patriotst.
These Deep State “double dipping” lobbyists, Power and Helmich on behalf of Ramba are purging those in Manatee County opposing “Pay to Play” developers, who are making $millions stuffing Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida legislators deep in their pockets. They are morally corrupting the Florida political system with an emerging ism similar to an communism and fascism oligarchy.
This morally corrupt pollical system has a Florida Governor and Florida State Legislators, who say not a word, as this emerging oligarchy operating in the Tallahassee swamp led by three Tallahassee based lobbyists and a fired Florida prison guard say not a word as America First political activists are purged.
Fried
This morally corrupt oligarchy emerging in the Florida Republican Party deep in the pockets of “Pay to Play” developers is able to flourish in Florida due to the opposition to the moral corruption emerging within Republican Party of Florida from the Democrat Party has become totally irrelevant and equally morally corrupt, as the Republican Party is led by Attorney John “Pot Boss” Morgan’ flunky, Nikki Fried.
It is way past time for those in Florida to understand that there is no major difference in the Florida Republican Party oligarchy run by UNI Party lobbyists in Tallahassee swamp and the Democrat “Pot” Party controlled by UNI Party lobbyists in the Tallahassee swamp. Both are morally corrupt.
Manatee County has now become a major threat to the UNI Party lobbyists operating out of the Tallahassee swamp financed by the multimillion “Pay to Play” developers, who had their handpicked candidates removed from office in 2024.
Heisse/Wayman
Manatee County has become the epicenter of those being purged by an oligarchy operating out of Tallahassee. Just as the local elected Manatee County Republican Executive Committee man and woman Trent Wayman and Jacki Heisse were deposed, and replaced by unelected MREC State Committee members, Manatee County Commissioners are now being threatened with removal.
DeSANTIS/BERUFF/NEAL/PEDICINI LOSERS
Seven "handpicked" County Commissioners financed by "Pay to Play" developers and managed by their political operative Anothy Pedicini with four ousted in 2024 and three to go in 2026
DeSantis with then Manatee County Commissioner Kevin Van Osterbridge who was voted out in 2024
Satcher with his wife and DeSantis
Another DeSantis loser is James Satcher, who was appointed Manatee SOE by DeSantis and after being endorsed by DeSantis was defeated in 2024. Satcher was a former Manatee County Commissioner handpicked by Pedicini.
DeSANTIS DEEP STATE OLIGARTY THREATENING COMMISSIONERS REMOVAL
The Manatee County Commissioners, who were elected by a significant majority of voters, are currently facing potential removal, because of introducing legislation that was mandated by the Manatee electorate.
Legislation that would higher impact for “Pay to Play” developers and end continuing flooding on present and proposed developments of "Pay to Play” developers.
SPIER RECONITION AND POTENTIAL LEADERSHIP LED TO DEEP STATE ACTIONS
Eddie and Claire Speir founded Inspiration Academy in 2013
The probable beginnging of the MREC’s shutdown, purging of MREC members, removing elected MREC officials and now threatening removal of Mantee County Commissioner came when Eddie Speir was awarded Statesman of the Year at the September 2024 Manatee County Liberty Caucus breakfast. The organization is one of most politically active grassroots organizations in the area.
Wright and May
Speir having received an impressive over 40% of the in the Republican primary in his run against U.S Congressman Vern Buchana in 2024, being supported by two of Manatee County America First activists, Jack May and Kevin Wright and with the possibly of Spear becoming Chairman of MREC, it was the last possibly item the Deep State based in Tallahassee could accept.
Donalds/Luna
It was no coincident that before the Manatee Liberty Caucus meeting, Buchanan operatives made calls to U.S Congress members Byron Donalds and Anna Paulina Luna not to attend the anointing of Speir, which they sadly agreed not to attend.
Pedicini/Andrade
The shutdown of the MREC, the purging and removal of the political activists was followed by numerous lawfare lawsuits filed by the Tampa based political operative Pedicini, who had his handpicked candidates financed by “Pay to Play” Developers defeated in 2024.
Those lawfare lawsuits were filed by Florida State Legislator Alex Andrade based over five hundred miles away in Pensacola on behalf of Pedicini. The lawfare lawsuits were filed against individuals and media outlets, who supported the ouster of Pedicinis clients financed by those “Pay to Play” developers.
After the shutdown of the MREC, the removal of elected MREC State Committee man and woman, Pedicini law fare lawsuits repercussions against those taking down the “Pay to Play” developers continued and intensified.
They intensified when the Manatee County Commissioners began to enact legislation mandated by the voters of Mantee County, with DeSantis vetoing all of Manatee County requested funding appropriations, totaling $4 million in legislative advanced funding to the county.
The Manatee County legislation included measures like increasing impact fees to ensure that developers contribute appropriately to meeting the County's infrastructure needs, which have arisen because of their numerous construction projects.
Other legislation included measures that would do away the 2023 gutting of wetlands protections by the handpicked County Commissioners by the Neal/Beruff Gang in 2020 and 2022.
The legislation increasing wetland buffers would decrease developer profits and increase development expenses, but the voters desired protecting wetlands protects homes, wildlife and human life.
Before the Commission could discuss and pass the legislation, pressure was applied for them to halt their actions.
Pressure originated from recently appointed DeSantis's Secretary of Commerce, Florida legislators, and a newly established law firm with strong political connections in Tallahassee. All financed and in the pockets of “Pay to Play” developers, which are among others Neal, Beruff, Benderson, and Jensen.
In anticipation of the Manatee County Commission actions, first came legislators deep in the pockets of the “Pay to Play” developers in Manatee County passing SB 180, which was then signed by the flunky of the Neal/Beruff Gang, DeSantis.
SB 180 strengthens the provisions of an earlier bill that would have made legislation enacted by the Manatee County Commission and approved by a significant majority of Manatee residence subject to possible legal action.
Connerly/Robinson/Boyd
Those above Manatee County legislators deep in the pockets of "Pay to Play" developers and part of oligarchy operating in the Depp State Tallahassee swamp who supported SB 180, are State Senator Jim Boyd and State Representatives Will Robinson and Bill Connerly.
McFarland
Representative Fiona McFarland of Sarasota County, who sponsored HB 180 the counterpart to SB 180, received over $250,000 from the Neal/Beruff/Jensen/Benderson “Pay to Play” Gang. Her legislation allowed continued development on flood-prone land. McFarland’s “kiss” of her amendment to HB 18O was a prime example of how the “Pay to Play” developers work the corrupt political system in Florida.
Gruters/Buchanan
McFarland's fellow legislators from Sarasota County who also joined in signing SB 180 are State Senator Joe Gruters and Representative James Buchanan.
Grassroots activists should remember when elections take place in 2026 and Florida Representative Fiona McFarland and her fellow legislators seek re-election, it was McFarland, who sponsor ed HB 180 and those signing SB 180 allowed Neal to build homes that will continue to flood in your backyards.
Kelly
As the Manatee County Commission prepared to act in providing relief to the local rampant overdevelopment, DeSantis’s appointed Secretary of Commerce and former Deputy Chief of Staff, Alex Kelly, sent two letters threatening consequences.
One letter related to the two proposed comprehensive plan amendments (wetland buffers and 2.1.2.8), while the other discussed a Commission resolution approved on June 5, 2025, raising impact fees by 100%.
Kelly threatened the Commissioners elected to take out the Neal/Beruff flunkies who corrupted Manatee County government with these words: “If the Board chooses to continue down this path, the consequences are inevitable.”
Consequences which included litigation, increased public scrutiny, and prompting the local government to clarify, amend, or create new regulations to prevent similar actions in the future.
The DeSantis appointed Kelly concluded the letter by advising the Commissioners that multiple state agencies had been copied and further funding to Manatee County could be cut off with these words, “Please rest assure that if the County continues down this path, all discretionary funding decisions by these agencies, including all grant awards and reimbursements, will be subject to heightened scrutiny and possible delays given the Board’s clear inability to understand and follow state law.”
Kelly’s letters came after DeSantis’s “visit” to Manatee County, where he announced an audit of the county government during a press conference.
That press conference came on the heels of an unannounced 8 a.m. private breakfast at the Capital Grille in Benderson’s UTC mall, where DeSantis met behind closed doors with the Neal/Beruff gang. Afterwards, Neal collected checks from attendees and passed them to DeSantis at the 12 p.m. press conference announcing the audit of Manatee County. DeSantis slipped them into his pocket before heading back to Tallahassee with a generous “kiss” from the “Pay to Play” developers.
It's not the first time DeSantis has had money stuffed in his pocket from the Neal/Beruff Gang of “Pay to Play” developers. DeFraud DeSantis has received over $180,000 from Beruff and over $250,000 from Neal.
Gonzales
Next came Facebook threats from Jason Gonzalez of the newly formed Lawson-Huck law firm:
“Manatee County Commission – You’ve been warned. We have excellent courts in Florida that follow the law. If you violate the laws of the State of Florida, you will hear from the Lawson Law Firm, and it will not end well.”
The so called “excellent courts in Florida,” Gonzalez speaks of has “Pay to Play” developer Neal in control of the 12th District Nominating Committee, who recommended the judges to DeSantis that will decide the constitutionality of SB 180.
Gonzales, who has warned the Manatee County Commissioners that it will not end well if they oppose "Pay to Play" developers, is able to make such outrageous and arrogant statements because he is high-level political operative. For years Gonzales has been swimming in the Tallahassee swamp as legal counsel for the RPOF and Florida Governors.
As legal counsel to Florida Governors, he was instrumental in selecting more than 75 judges. He served as a member of the Judicial Nominating Commission in 2007 for four justices of the Florida Supreme Court, and Chairman of the Judicial Nominating Commission for the First District Court of Appeal and the Second Judicial Circuit of Florida.
Gonzales knows one can threaten elected officials and get away with it when you have a Governor and legislators in your pocket and multimillion dollar “Pay to Play” developers bankrolling you, while you keep the meter running, not to mention a major media ignoring how corrupt the Tallahassee swamp operates.
GONZALEZ’S LAW FIRM CONTINUES THREATENING MANATEE COMMISSIONERS
As legal counsel to Florida Governors in being instrumental in selecting more than 75 judges and serving as a member of the Judicial Nominating Commission in 2007 for four justices of the Florida Supreme Court, Chairman of the Judicial Nominating Commission for the First District Court of Appeal and the Second Judicial Circuit, Gonzales has been swimming in the Tallahassee swamp, as legal counsel for the RPOF and Florida Governors.
Kruse
Even after Commissioner George Kruse cancelled the proposed meeting to discuss and vote on legislation mandated by Manatee County voters to slow runaway growth in Manatee County another threatening letter arrived—this time from another Lawson/Huck associate, Samuel J. Salarios Jr., who is a former Florida Second District Cout of Appeals Judge.
Salarios
“On behalf of our clients, we respectfully demand that the Commission withdraw the proposed comprehensive plan amendments no later than 14 days from the date of this letter. If they are not withdrawn within 14 days, our clients will file suit, seek a temporary injunction, and seek recovery of its attorney’s fees and costs from the County. The better course is for the County to withdraw the proposals before then.”
Lawson
Salarios, like Gonzales, is a Florida Deep State attorney in the recently formed Lawson/Huck law. Alan Lawson is another Florida Deep State Attorney, who retired in August as a justice on the Florida Supreme Court after serving as a judge in the First District Court of Appeal.
Huck
Another partner in this recently formed new law firm is Florida Deep State attorney is Paul Huck, who is the husband of Judge Barbara Lagoa of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit. Huck previously served as Florida Chief Deputy Attorney General and as General Counsel to Governor Charlie Crist.
On day one, the recently formed Lawson/Huck law firm made up of Florida Deep State attorneys announced it was engaged by several top government and corporate clients: HCA Healthcare Florida, the Florida Chamber of Commerce, Florida Power & Light, NextEra Energy, Publix Supermarkets, Ajax Building Corporation, D.R. Horton, U.S. Institute for Legal Reform, Florida Healthcare Association, Crowder Gulf, Florida Department of Transportation, Florida Department of Management Services, Security First Insurance Company, Tower Hill Insurance, and the Greater Miami Expressway Agency.
Wilson
The Deep State Florida Chamber of Commerce President, Mark Wilson, welcomed the new law firm, who is threatening to remove Manatee County Commissioners elected by Manatee voters with these words:
“We are grateful to Justice Alan Lawson for his service on the Supreme Court and look forward to working with him and his new law partners. I’m excited he chose to team up with Jason Gonzalez whose work with the Florida Chamber has helped to change the legal climate in Florida for decades to come. Congratulations on the creation of a new Florida business and the newest Florida Chamber of Commerce member.”
These high-paid, politically connected Tallahassee swamp insiders pressuring the Manatee County Commissioners are part of Florida’s Deep State judiciary—a network of attorneys and judges, who has corrupted the system through a governor-controlled judicial appointment process.
Those appointed judges, once being seated, went on to win unopposed elections, as it is rare to run against an incumbent. The last time a sitting judge had been challenged in the 12th Judicial Circuit (DeSoto/Manatee/Sarasota Counties) was 2006. Former Governor Rick Scott appointed 241 judges statewide with present Governor Ron DeSantis appointing a similar number.
DeSantis in the pockets of “Pay to Play” developers cannot be more obviously a part of the Florida Deep State, as he threatens through his handpicked Secretary of Commerce to take out Manatee County Commissioners. These present Manatee County Commissioners are the ones that defeated the developer backed Commissioners in 2024, who turned Manatee County Government into a Neal/Beruff/Pedicini total Shit Show.
There can be no better example of DeSantis being a “Doughboy” in the pockets of “Pay to Play” developers, then while the so-called major fake news media outlets in Sarasota/Manatee and beyond slept, DeSantis on his 7/24/2025 "visit" to Manatee County had an 8AM unnoticed private breakfast meeting with “Pay to Play” developer Neal bundeling checks into DeSantis's pocket.
The Neal "kiss" to DeSantis occurred after he announced an audit of Manatee County, signed SB 180 and before Kelly's threatening letters to the Mantee County Commissioners.
It seems that hopefully only in Florida could a politician like DeSantis initiate an audit of Manatee County government, which is followed by having his appointed Secretary of Commerce Kelly pressure the Manatee County Commission to cooperate or face removal.
Anyone who thinks Neal’s bundled checks to DeSantis do not smack of quid pro quo is ignoring just how corrupt Florida politics have become.
Even in Massachusetts where I was involved in politics for years and has reputation of being one of the most corrupt states in the United States, you may go to jail or at least have someone ask serious questions as to why individuals involved in special interest land deals are stuffing checks into the pockets of a politician like DeSantis, which is all after a bill has been passed and signed into law benefiting those same individuals.
Power/Teague
No ono goes to jail or is investigated in the Florida Republican Party Deep State oligarchy, where the RPOF is being led by a "pot" lobbying Chairman, Evan Power, who is a lobbyist and drunk driver, along with a Vice Chairman, Jovante Teague, who is a disgraced, fired prison guard involved in alleged salacious sexual actions at the Dixie County Jail.
Not in the Florida Republican Party Deep State oligarchy, where “Pay to Play” developers stuff checks into the pockets of the Governor and state legislators, while freedom fighters are purged and County Commissioners are threatened by Governor-appointed officials and Deep State attorneys—all operating out of the Tallahassee swamp.
Jon Susce
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