2014 D16 Senate Race – Thad Altman

The Front Groups:

Space Coast Liberty Caucus – A Florida Political Committee

Protect Our Liberty – A Florida Political Committee

The Conservative – A Florida Political Committee

The Committee for a Better Florida, Inc. – A Florida Political Committee

The Coates Law Firm – Based in Tallahassee

Tidewater Consulting, Inc. – A Tallahassee Lobbying and Policy Advocacy Firm

The Republican Party of Florida

In the Florida Senate District 16 race incumbent Thad Altman is being challenged by political newcomer Monique Miller.

On June 23, 2014, a political committee entitled Space Coast Liberty Caucus was registered with the Florida Division of Elections. William S. Jones is listed as the Chairperson, Treasurer and Registered Agent. The address for this pc is listed as 2023 N. Atlantic Ave., #271, Cocoa Beach, Fl. 32931. The phone # is listed as (202) 239-1642.

On June 30, a $15,000.00 contribution was received by the Space Coast Liberty Caucus from a political committee entitled Protect Our Liberty. On July 2, a $100,000.00 contribution was received by the Space Coast Liberty Caucus, also from Protect Our Liberty. On July 29, an additional $165,000.00 came in from Protect Our Liberty. Senate President elect Andy Gardiner is listed as the Chairperson, Treasurer and Registered Agent for Protect Our Liberty.

Since late June, television commercials and numerous direct mail pieces have been employed by the Altman campaign, all showing the disclaimer “sponsored by Space Coast Liberty Caucus”. Reports on file with the Division of Elections list over $221,000.00 in expenditures by Space Coast Liberty Caucus through July 31.

Andy Gardiner’s political committee, Protect Our Liberty, lists it’s address as 5730 Corporate Way, Suite 214, West Palm Beach, Fl. 33407. Through July 11, Protect Our Liberty lists contributions in excess of $445,000.00. The single biggest contributor to Protect Our Liberty is another political committee entitled The Conservative. The Conservative contributed $250,000.00 to Protect Our Liberty. The Conservative’s contribution list reads like a who’s who of Florida’s powerful special interests.

William S. Jones, the chairperson, treasurer and registered agent for Space Coast Liberty Caucus is also the chairperson, treasurer and registered agent for The Conservative. The Conservative lists its address as 115 East Park Ave., Suite 1, Tallahassee, Fl. 32301.

While the address on file for the Space Coast Liberty Caucus is shown as 2023 N. Atlantic Ave., #271, Cocoa Beach, Fl. 32931, the paperwork establishing this committee was hand delivered to the Division of Elections office in Tallahassee with a cover letter from Noreen A. Fenner, legal assistant at the Coates Law Firm which has as its address, 115 East Park Ave., Suite 1, Tallahassee, Fl. 32301.

The Conservative and the Coates Law Firm share the same address in Tallahassee. Noreen Fenner of the Coates Law Firm prepared, and hand delivered the paperwork establishing the Space Coast Liberty Caucus to the Florida Division of Elections office in Tallahassee.

Richard E. Coates of the Coates Law Firm is also the president of Tidewater Consulting, Inc., a full-service lobbying and policy advocacy firm operating out of offices at 115 East Park Ave., Suite 1, Tallahassee, Fl. 32301. Noreen Fenner is also listed as a staff member at Tidewater Consulting. Richard Coates is listed as representing insurance and telecommunication companies, the space industry, private colleges, high speed rail and many other business interests. The Tidewater client list is extensive and includes many powerful special interests.

William S. Jones is also the Chairperson, Treasurer and Registered Agent for a political committee entitled The Committee for a Better Florida, Inc. which lists its address as 115 East Park Ave., Suite 1, Tallahassee, Fl. 32301. The Committee for a Better Florida lists two expenditures totaling over $60,000.00 to Public Concepts, LLC. Public Concepts lists its address as 5730 Corporate Way, Suite 214, West Palm Beach, Fl. 33407. This is the exact same address for Andy Gardiner’s PC, Protect Our Liberty.

William S. Jones is clearly the common denominator between The Conservative, Protect Our Liberty, The Coates Law Firm, Tidewater Consulting and Space Coast Liberty Caucus.

The Conservative, operating out of the Coates Law Firm and the offices of Tidewater Consulting raises money from Florida’s rich and powerful special interests. The Conservative then contributes $250,000.00 to Senate President Andy Gardiner’s political committee, Protect Our Liberty. Protect Our Liberty then contributes $280,000.00 to the political committee, Space Coast Liberty Caucus. Space Coast Liberty Caucus then spends this money on television ads and mailers for Thad Altman. The citizens of senate district 16 have no idea where the money is coming from.

Thad Altman owes his political life to Andy Gardiner, Richard Coates, Tidewater Consulting, William S. Jones and their special interest clients.

Finally, adding insult to injury, the Republican Party of Florida has contributed over $85,000 to the campaign account of Thad Altman. This is in violation of the RPOF Loyalty Oath and RPOF rule 8 on endorsements.