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Candidate will return donations

By JEFF TESTERMAN
Published August 10, 2006

TAMPA - A day after County Commission candidate Kevin White defended questionable campaign expenditures for expensive Italian suits, his opponent Chloe Coney admitted that her campaign collected $1,200 in improper contributions.

The improper donations to Coney included two $500 contributions from nonprofit organizations, as well as a cash contribution of $200 from adult club owner Joe Redner, himself a candidate for the Hillsborough County Commission.

IRS rules generally prohibit religious, educational or other groups that are tax-exempt from participating in a political campaign, making them ineligible to endorse a candidate or donate money to a campaign.

In June, the Spirit of Truth International Ministries - where Coney's husband is the pastor - and another religious nonprofit called Keys to Life each contributed $500 to Coney's campaign.

Last month, at a July 11 gathering in honor of Coney's birthday, Redner gave two $100 bills to her for her campaign, twice the amount allowed by state law.

Florida election law makes it a misdemeanor for any person to make or accept a contribution in cash or cashier's check in excess of $100.

On Wednesday, Coney said the errors had been made out of ignorance, and she said steps were already under way to fix the campaign mistakes.

"This is my first time running for office, and this is a learning curve for me," she said.

The two religious nonprofits, whose tax exemption could be jeopardized by political contributions, will receive immediate refunds of their $500 checks, Coney said, "and if they want to, the ministers can then make new contributions in their own names." She said the $200 cash contribution from Redner has already been refunded.

Coney also offered comments about a St. Petersburg Times story published Wednesday examining White's use of $6,100 in campaign funds to buy imported $500 suits, tailored slacks, shirts and ties. White bought the clothing from a shop owner named Robert Robins but listed the campaign expenditures as money paid for consulting services to Robbins Consulting, a nonexistent company.

Coney's take on White's fashion purchases?

"I don't even own a $500 dress," she said. "In my district, I have people who say, 'It's one thing to look good, but we need someone on the County Commission who will do good.' "

In the Democratic primary, White faces Coney, a former executive at the nonprofit Corporation to Develop Communities of Tampa, and Dorothy "Nicolle" Admire, a social worker.

Jeff Testerman can be reached at 813 226-3422 or testerman@sptimes.com

[Last modified August 10, 2006, 08:12:49]