Sarasota Democrat files election complaint against Rick Scott

Zac Anderson
zac.anderson@heraldtribune.com
JoAnne DeVries has filed a federal elections complaint against Gov. Rick Scott. [Herald-Tribune staff photo / Dan Wagner]

Sarasota County Democratic Party Chairwoman JoAnne DeVries has filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission alleging Republican Gov. Rick Scott's U.S. Senate campaign violated federal election law.

Scott formally launched his bid to unseat Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson on April 9. But DeVries alleges Scott's campaign was raising money before then and did not properly disclose the donations by filing a first quarter campaign finance report with the FEC.

DeVries alleges that Scott's campaign sent out a fundraising email "at least as early as March 29."

As part of her complaint, DeVries submitted a copy of an email from Scott fundraiser Jenny Drucker.

"I'm sure you saw the news that Governor Rick Scott is going to make an announcement on April 9th," the email reads. "And as we lead up to that announcement and near the end of the first quarter of the election year, he could use your support TODAY!"

The email asks for checks payable to "Rick Scott for Florida" and notes the maximum contribution amount.

"Assuming even one person responded to that ask, Mr. Scott raised over $5,000 on that date, triggering candidacy. ... Yet Mr. Scott did not file an April Quarterly Report," DeVries writes.

The complaint asks the FEC to compel Scott to submit a first-quarter fundraising report "and impose an appropriate fine for the delay."

"So this is what Senator Nelson is spending his campaign cash on," Scott campaign spokeswoman Kerri Wyland said in an email. "Legal fees to draft hollow FEC complaints."

Wyland pointed to FEC regulations that require candidates to file paperwork formalizing their campaigns within 15 days of raising $5,000 or more. She did not address whether Scott raised money during the first quarter, and if so, whether he should have filed a fundraising report.

Allies of Scott and Nelson have filed a number of formal complaints against the candidates in recent weeks. A Senate ethics complaint filed against Nelson last week accuses him of using his official position to benefit his campaign.