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Two main donors back city's biggest political battle

A retired professor and a Sirata resort owner dig deep for their causes.

By CRISTINA SILVA
Published October 29, 2006

One is a retired professor from Massachusetts. The other is a hotelier and the younger brother of a city commissioner.

Both have dug deep into their wallets to become the main individual contributors to two opposing political action committees in St. Pete Beach.

Between their thousands of dollars in donations, the two men are helping to finance the largest political battle this city has ever seen.

William Pyle, a former University of Massachusetts professor, has donated about $50,000 to Citizens for Responsible Growth, more than half of the $90,000 the group has raised since it formed in 2005.

The group wants voters to have final approval of any changes to the city's comprehensive land use plan.

Pyle said he decided to donate part of an inheritance an aunt left him after city officials filed a lawsuit against the group challenging the legality of petitions it had circulated.

"The city has unlimited tax dollars at their disposal and they hired expensive lawyers," he said. "Somehow you have to get the money to answer them in court."

Gregg Nicklaus, a co-owner of the Sirata Beach Resort, has donated at least $19,000 to the Alliance for a Balanced Community since the group was formed in early September, according to city records.

Funded heavily by businesses and hoteliers, the group supports a city approved plan that would revitalize St. Pete Beach's commercial centers and allow for taller buildings in its hotel district.

"I will tell you that our history and commitment to this beach is not a mystery. We live here and work here," he said.

"Anyone who wonders why we are making the investment should review the fact that it has taken us 44 years to get here today, and we will fight for our property rights just as they will fight for theirs."

Nicklaus, a former lawyer, is the younger brother of Commissioner Deborah Nicklaus. He and his siblings inherited the hotel. Lenne Nicklaus Ball, another Nicklaus sister and a co-owner of the resort, donated $6,500 to the group.

ABC has raised about $76,000, a sum that falls short of the original $250,000 that Gary Renfrow, treasurer for the group and owner of the Alden Beach Resort, said it would raise.

Most of the group's money has been used in a campaign blitz that has paid for a TV advertisement, a Web site and thousands of fliers.

"Our opponent has been raising money and spending money for the past two years," said Patrick Slevin, a spokesman for the group. "So we had to counter that and communicate to the voters of St. Pete Beach the stakes of this campaign and why they need to vote 'no.'

In order to do this effectively, in such a short span of time, of course we had to do paid media, direct mail, television, Web site and handouts, but the most important of our campaign is our networks of volunteers."

Cristina Silva can be reached at (727) 893-8846 or csilva@sptimes.com.

[Last modified October 30, 2006, 09:15:47]