Investigation launched into campaign contributions
By JIM HARRINGTON
Article published on Wednesday, March 2, 2005  |
LARGO – The Pinellas Sheriff’s Office is investigating three Largo commissioners who may have violated the city charter for either accepting or giving illegal campaign contributions to other city officials.
According to campaign finance records, Commissioner Harriet Crozier gave $86.14 to Commissioner Pat Burke in 1999 and, most recently, gave $25 to Gigi Arntzen, who lost her run for Seat 1 in Tuesday’s election. Arntzen reportedly returned the money.
Finance records also show that Commissioner Pat Gerard took $100 from former Commissioner Charlie Harper two years ago. She also gave a $100 check to Rodney Woods in his failed campaign for Seat 2. The money to Woods has reportedly been returned.
Residents complained to the Largo Police Department, which then forwarded the complaints to the Pinellas Sheriff’s Office. Detectives in the division of economic crimes are investigating the complaints according to Mac McMullen, Pinellas Sheriff’s spokesman.
“It’s a complicated situation,” said McMullen. “It’s still an ongoing investigation.”
A provision in the city charter reads “no person who holds any compensated city position or office shall make, solicit or receive any contribution to the political campaigns, parties or candidates pertaining to the city elections or take part in the management, affairs or political campaigns of said elections unless such activities are for said person’s own campaigns.”
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Article published on Wednesday, March 2, 2005
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