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Conservative giver fills GOP coffers in commission race
By BILL VARIAN, Times Staff Writer TAMPA -- Conservative activist Ralph Hughes is spending liberally on this year's Hillsborough County Commission races. With nearly five months to go until the primary, Hughes, his family and a handful of their close business associates have pumped at least $34,000 into the campaigns of a slate of candidates, a St. Petersburg Times analysis shows. "That's my whole campaign right there," said Denise Layne, who is running for the District 2 north Hillsborough seat and has raised $18,290 as a non-Hughes beneficiary. The money donated by Hughes and his associates represents 8 percent of all the money given to the 19 candidates who had declared by the March 31 reporting period. For most of the six candidates Hughes is supporting, the contributions make up close to 20 percent of their total. It accounts for almost the entire war chest of one candidate. "I'm not quite sure I understand why Ralph is so enthused about supporting selected candidates for the County Commission," said Commission Chairwoman Pat Frank, a Democrat who is facing one of the Hughes-backed candidates. "Is it good government? Or is it about influence and power?" Hughes did not return messages seeking comment. But the candidates he is supporting say he is simply putting his money where his beliefs are. They say it has nothing to do with control. "I've already disagreed with him on a few issues, and I've told him I don't agree with him," said Republican Brian Blair, a former gym owner and pro wrestler who is running for an at-large seat against Frank. "I think he liked that about me." The beneficiaries of Hughes' largesse say he has asked for nothing in return. They said he gives to people he thinks support good -- meaning leaner -- government. Hughes is a regular contributor to campaigns. And he once gave the county $150,000 to pay for a Florida TaxWatch analysis of how the government could save money. "I think he likes the fiscally conservative positions I have," said Republican Denise Lasher, who is running for the District 2 seat. "He's never tried to get me to do things a certain way." Lasher noted that her $5,000 Hughes-related contributions represent a relatively small percentage of the $59,380 in cash she had collected by the end of March. She said the contributions came well after she declared her candidacy. Democratic Executive Commission Chairman Mike Scionti, however, said it is a large percentage, even by Lasher's total. "That's an inordinate amount of money," Scionti said. "When a candidate receives that kind of money from an individual, it just can't help but influence you." Hughes is backing one candidate in each of the six seats up for election. All of the candidates are Republicans, except District 3 incumbent Tom Scott, who is so far unopposed but has collected $6,000 from Hughes. Each of the candidates received at least $5,000, all in the maximum $500 increments. Jim Norman, who is facing fellow Republican Stacey Easterling in the District 5 at-large contest, received the most support from the Hughes group -- $7,000. The Times analysis considered only people and companies with close ties to Hughes. The totals include direct contributions from Hughes and money from his parent company, Florida Engineered Construction Products (FECP), and its affiliates. Money from John Stanton, a board member for FECP, also was factored, as were contributions from other companies with which he is associated, and companies that share post office boxes. Finally, the figures include money from Hughes' son, Shea, his daughter-in-law, Donna, Shea Hughes' three landscaping and nursery businesses and one of his partners. Stanton and Shea Hughes have unlisted home phone numbers and could not be reached for comment. Blair said he was referred to Hughes by Hillsborough Republican Executive Committee Chairwoman Margie Kincaid. She said he was someone who could help him raise money. The two met and hit it off. Most of the $6,500 Blair received from the Hughes group came on the same day -- a few days after he declared his candidacy. The amount accounts for 18 percent of the $35,325 Blair has raised to date. Gene Wells, a Republican candidate for the District 1 seat representing south and west Tampa, collected most of his $5,000 from the Hughes group on the same day as well. He has raised only $2,155 from other sources. One of Wells' opponents, Democrat Mimi Osiason, a first-time office seeker, said she is learning fast that raising money is critical to promoting a candidacy. She has raised $15,850 herself and lent her campaign another $5,000. But she said her opponent's total highlights how efforts at campaign finance reform have fallen short. "When a small number of people are controlling a large number of candidates on one political body, that should be of special concern to citizens," she said. Wells did not return a phone call seeking comment. Republican Ronda Storms, who has received $5,500 of her $25,170 from the Hughes group, said no one is controlling her. Storms, who is seeking re-election to the District 4 seat representing southeast Hillsborough, said she has known both Hughes and his son, who like her husband works in the nursery business, for years. They share interests but also have disagreements. "The first time I packed my bags to leave home was when I was 3 years old," Storms said. "So I have never been accused of being a weak-willed person." -- Bill Varian can be reached at (813) 226-3387 or varian@sptimes.com.
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