Citizen accuses St. Petersburg council chair of voting in favor of donors

A constituent has filed an ethics complaint against the chairperson of the St. Petersburg City Council who voted in favor of donors to her re-election campaign when their business came before the council.

In a complaint to the Florida Commission on Ethics, Lakewood Estates resident Bradlee McCoy documented how his City Council representative, Deborah Figgs-Sanders, has received donations that line up with votes taken by Figgs-Sanders and the council.

He pointed to campaign records that show Figgs-Sanders received $3,000 from the Sugar Hill Group, the developers approved by the council to redevelop a city-owned strip mall called Tangerine Plaza; $1,000 from developer Nicholas Pantuliano, whose property borders what would be the Historic Gas Plant District if that project is ultimately approved; and $100 from Terri Lipsey Scott, the executive director of the Woodson African American Museum of Florida, which stands to get $10 million if the city’s deal with the Tampa Bay Rays and their development partner Hines is approved by the council.

The complaint highlights that Figgs-Sanders’ son received a college scholarship from the Woodson in 2020-21 that paid up to $5,000 each year. Woodson executive director Lipsey Scott said Figgs-Sanders’ son received a scholarship under the maximum amount for only two years beginning in 2019 before Figgs-Sanders was elected to the council.

“Someone has absolutely nothing better to do,” said Lipsey Scott, who said the scholarship is “no well kept secret.”

“Terri Lipsey Scott makes campaign contributions to those she believes and trusts to do an outstanding job,” she said.

The donations amount to $4,100. As of July 12, Figgs-Sanders has raised $90,645 in her general election race against challenger Torrie Jasuwan.

Figgs-Sanders did not respond to a phone call and text message seeking comment.

McCoy posted on Facebook that Figgs-Sanders canceled a meeting with him and a neighborhood group without offering to reschedule, which prompted him to analyze her campaign finance filings. On Friday, he received a letter from the state ethics commission that confirmed his complaint had been received.

“It is becoming clear that she does not represent the people for which she was elected to represent,“ McCoy wrote. “A trend is appearing — she is being bought and voting in the favor of her donors.”

McCoy told the Times he liked another group’s plan to buy Tangerine Plaza. Positive Impact Ministries submitted a $1.75 million cash offer to the city with plans to create a free grocery store. City officials did not consider the offer.

An ethics expert contacted by the Times says the donations are not a cause for concern. Barry Richard, an attorney who represented President George W. Bush in the Florida recount and former gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum in his ethics hearing, said he doesn’t believe an ethics violation took place.

“The general idea is when it comes to campaign contributions, you have to report all your campaign contributions, report the source of the contributions, and it’s up to the voters to determine whether there is a conflict the next time you run,” Richard said.

Richard added there’s a possibility of a conflict with Figgs-Sanders’ son receiving a scholarship from the Woodson, but the timing and how direct the benefit is to her would have to be looked at. Woodson scholarships have gone to children of other City Hall figures, including former Deputy Mayor Kanika Tomalin and City Clerk Chan Srinivasa.

The first donation, $1,000 from Mt. Progressive Missionary Baptist Church pastor Louis M. Murphy, Sr., part of the Sugar Hill Group, was made March 25. Three days later, a council committee discussed Sugar Hill Group’s plans.

Figgs-Sanders, who sits on that committee, motioned to recommend the agreement to the full City Council. That move failed on a tie vote but city administration carried on with executing an agreement. That same day, another $1,000 check came in for Figgs-Sanders from Oliver Gross of Miami’s New Urban Development, Sugar Hill Group’s partner in the deal.

“I would very highly doubt that any contributions made to the councilwoman had any influence in any of her decisions,” Gross said.

Sugar Hill Group’s Roy Binger donated $250 on April 3 and gave another $750 on June 10, four days after the council approved the agreement with Sugar Hill in a 5-3 vote. Figgs-Sanders voted yes.

Murphy said he’s a personal friend of Figgs-Sanders. “I’ve always supported Deborah Figgs-Sanders and will support her in the future,” he said.

Pantuliano could not be reached through a spokesperson. Figgs-Sanders has voted in favor of the Gas Plant project consistently while on the council and as part of a community board assessing the deal for sufficient community benefits.