JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A private-jet trip to a Tampa Bay Rays game is raising questions about the relationship between business and politics in Jacksonville.
The Florida Tribune first reported that Jacksonville City Council President Nick Howland flew to the game on a plane owned by billionaire developer Patrick Zalupski, the founder and CEO of Jacksonville-based Dream Finders Homes and a part owner of the Rays.
Dream Finders has lobbyists registered with Jacksonville City Hall.
Howland told the Florida Tribune that he attended the game to raise money for his political committee, Florida Freedom PAC. In a statement to News4JAX, he said all monetary and in-kind contributions related to the trip would be disclosed in the committee’s campaign finance reports, as required by Florida law.
“I attended last Sunday’s Rays-Padres game to help raise funds for my political committee, Florida Freedom PAC,” Howland said. “All monetary and in-kind contributions will be fully disclosed in the committee’s campaign finance reports as required by Florida law.”
Jacksonville City Council member Jimmy Peluso criticized the trip, saying the public does not know how much Howland paid for the flight or whether he paid anything.
“The issue is he gets on a private jet that a billionaire owns and flies down to see a game in a box suite, and we don’t know how much of that he paid for,” Peluso said. “And I doubt that he paid any. It’s just the ability to do something when you’re in power. That doesn’t mean you should do it.”
Peluso said he plans to review the campaign finance reports when they are filed.
“I would hope that somebody in leadership would have enough emotional intelligence to recognize, like, you know what? Perception or otherwise, this doesn’t look good,” Peluso said.
Florida ethics law generally prohibits certain elected officials from accepting gifts valued at more than $100. However, state campaign finance rules allow private-aircraft travel to be reported as an in-kind political contribution. The value may be based on comparable commercial airfare.
Political analyst Rick Mullaney said the distinction is important. He expects the trip to become an issue in the spring election.
“There are really three basic issues here,” Mullaney said. “One is whether or not any ethics laws were broken. Based on what we know, it does not appear that ethics laws were broken. Second is popularity with the public, and I think that it is very unpopular with the public. But the bigger area is that third area — this could very well be, with the spring elections coming up next spring, one of those discussion points.”
The Florida Tribune reported that Zalupski did not respond to requests for comment.
Howland said all contributions connected to the trip will be disclosed as required by law.
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