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After error, Robbins returns campaign funds
By MICHAEL SANDLER, Times Staff Writer LARGO -- Tom Robbins did not like his chances for Florida House of Representatives. So he withdrew from the race, collected his campaign contributions and decided to make a run for local office in Largo. With $14,550 left over from his state campaign, he entered the race for the Largo City Commission with nearly three times the war chest that candidates there traditionally raise by Election Day. But now, with the election less than three months away, Robbins is giving all the money back. "It's a whole long story," said Robbins, 51, a nursing home administrator. "I have to give all that money back. I've already sent out some 35 refunds this past weekend." The problem, state elections officials say, is that Robbins withdrew from the state race and never followed up with state officials formally requesting to transfer the money to his Largo election account. In June, state election officials received a letter from Robbins saying he was withdrawing from the race. Once the letter was sent, he had 90 days to either return the money to his contributors, donate it to charity or give up to $10,000 to the political party to which he belonged, said Ed Kast, director for the State Department's division of elections. "There are all kinds of options," Kast said. "Usually, to run for another race, that would not be one." Robbins, who ran unsuccessful campaigns for state House District 53 in 2000 and for the Pinellas County School Board in 1998, said he indicated a desire to transfer the funds and even contacted his donors, more than 120, seeing if they wanted their money back. "They said they did not want it," he said. But apparently he did not fill out the proper form requesting the transfer. Robbins raised more than $17,000 since August 2001 for the state race, with many donations coming from health care groups throughout the state. But his confidence faded in June when he learned that the boundaries for District 53 had changed and that he would have to face popular incumbent Leslie Waters. So he backed off and challenged Pat Gerard for her seat on the Largo City Commission. That election is March 4. Robbins said he called the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections to see about transferring the money. Frank Gould, an election specialist there, told him it would be okay, provided he contacted all the donors and made clear he was running for local office, instead. Gould could not be reached on Monday. Deborah Clark, Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections, said she was still researching the case Monday. "I don't know how this got tangled," she said. A candidate for city commission in Largo traditionally raises about $5,000 to campaign. So when Gigi Arntzen, a local campaign adviser helping Gerard, saw that Robbins had raised three times the amount from statewide sources, she was concerned. "These people gave that money thinking he was going to run for a state-wide office and represent him at a statewide level," Arntzen said. "These are people from all over the state. I can't image they would want to contribute these funds for a Largo City Commission race. Now if they are aware of that, fine." Arntzen complained in November to the Division of Elections in Tallahassee. Soon after, Robbins received a call. Rather then face a possible ethics complaint from Arntzen, Robbins decided last week to return the money. "I thought what I did to begin with was the right thing," Robbins said. "Then when I found out it was an issue, and, in actuality, it was not the right thing, they advised me the best thing was to give the money back. And that's what I will do." -- Michael Sandler can be reached at 445-4174 or sandler@sptimes.com .
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From the Times North Pinellas desks |
