25 donors associated with the land and housing development industry have made identical investments in the campaigns of 3 Oviedo City Council candidates according to the most recent campaign finance disclosure reports. The recipients are, as previously reported, candidates Keith Britton, Bob Pollack, and Jeffrey Chudnow.
All 3 candidates are long time veterans of City Hall; Britton has served over 20 years in various capacities, Pollack since 2011, and Chudnow since in 2008.
Highlights from the contribution list are as follows:
- The trio have received matching checks from multiple attorneys at Lowndes Drosdick, the law firm that represents the controversial River Cross development.
- They also received contributions from John Miklos and affiliated companies totaling $1500 each. Miklos’ company, Bio-Tech, has been retained to obtain environmental clearances on a 690-acre project that is currently disallowed by Seminole County’s Comprehensive Plan.
- Developer Dustin Lucas, who also owns JEL and Lucas Land Group, put $1250 in the hands of each of these candidates via various companies he controls. Evans Investments, which originally owned all of “Oviedo On The Park” mega development, donated $500 to each.
- Britton, Pollack, and Chudnow also got matching donations from the REALTOR PAC, the Greater Orlando Builder’s Association, and real estate broker Dave Axel.
- The three also received matching donations from Florida Strategic Advisors, a company owned by Michelle Ertel, who is married to the Seminole County Supervisor of Elections, Michael Ertel. As Supervisor of Elections, Michael Ertel is not allowed to donate to political campaigns because it would create the appearance of bias. This rule does not apply to his wife or any companies in which she has an interest.
The full campaign finance disclosure reports can be found at the Seminole Elections website: https://www.voteseminole.org/ElectedOfficials#Candidates