JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville City Council President Nick Howland is defending a private-jet trip to a Tampa Bay Rays game on a plane owned by billionaire developer Patrick Zalupski, saying the trip was tied to fundraising for his political committee and that everything will be fully disclosed.
The Florida Trib first reported that Howland flew to the game on a plane owned by Zalupski, who is CEO of Dream Finders Homes and a part owner of the Rays. Dream Finders has lobbyists registered at City Hall.
What Howland says happened
Howland told News4JAX on Tuesday that he attended the Rays game to raise funds for Florida Freedom PAC, his political committee.
“I was at the Rays game last week to raise funds for my political committee,” Howland said. “Everything will be fully disclosed in the political committee reports.”
When asked whether he would have done anything differently given the public backlash, Howland pushed back.
“No, it was entirely legal,” he said. “I checked with my compliance team prior to the event and I double-checked with the ethics team after the event. It’s also all been fully disclosed and transparent.”
Why the flight is drawing scrutiny
Florida ethics law generally limits gifts over $100 for certain public officials. However, campaign finance rules can allow private-aircraft travel to be reported as an in-kind political contribution — a distinction that could apply here.
The story drew sharp reaction from News4JAX readers after it was first published.
“Something is smelly at City Hall and it’s not the fish in the St. Johns,” one reader wrote. Another commented: “This is how the purchase of a politician starts.”
What comes next
Campaign finance filings should show whether the flight or suite access was reported as an in-kind contribution and how it was valued. News4JAX will track those filings as they become available.
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