A city commissioner in Miami Beach, who has been raising enormous amounts of money through his Political Action Committee, thinks it should stop.
Jonah Wolfson is now reversing his position, saying his political fundraising techniques are just too controversial. He's sponsoring an ordinance to stop the practice.
"Essentially, it's looking back and thinking there's a better way," Wolfson said.
Wolfson, eager to ban a political practice he has been practicing, has received big donations from people who do business with Miami Beach.
"Upon reflection and looking deeply into the issue, Miami Beach is better. We should hold ourselves to a higher standard," Wolfson said.
In just a few months, Wolfson's "Relentless for Progress" Political Action Committee raised more than $1 million, with the website explaining how the money is supporting the campaigns of strong political leaders.
The controversy? Vendors and developers who do business with the city gave massive donations.
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Beach Commissioner Ed Tobin said donors called him, saying they were strong-armed and forced by the PAC to contribute, "The ethical problem is intimidation. When you call somebody that is extremely vulnerable and you tell them that they are going to give you money, and you control their fate."
Plenty of controversy surrounds Wolfson's PAC, which sent out mailers, in one instance promoting transparency and good government, another criticizing a political candidate.
Wolfson admits his PAC was controversial, but insists it was completely legal.
"The practice of fundraising from stakeholders is something the Supreme Court definitively found is free speech and legal, but Miami Beach, we should be better. We are better," Wolfson said.
The ethics commission in Miami-Dade County is investigating Wolfson's PAC. Meanwhile, he is promising to return the money to the people who donated.
