WAECHTER AND THE FEC
Bob Waechter (far left, second row) watches the swearing in of county commissioners in November
2012. Photo by Norman Schimmel
STATE AUTHORITIES FINE FORMER SARASOTA GOP CHIEF
By Cooper Levey-Baker
Associate Editor
Former Republican Party of Sarasota County
Chairman Bob Waechter's criminal trial won't
start till next month, but in the meantime,
the Florida Elections Commission has found
"probable cause" of an election law violation
and fined him $750.
Ramirez, has already weighed in on one of
the fake donations. According to a four-page
document given to The Sarasota News Leader by Ramirez, the Elections Commission has
reached a "consent final order" agreement
with Waechter in the case of the Alpert donaProsecutors charged Waechter late last year tion and fined him for his role.
with Criminal Use of Personal Identification The $35 Alpert donation was made online in
Information, a third-degree felony, for alRamirez's name on Oct. 2, 2012 with a prepaid
legedly making donations to two 2012 DemVISA credit card. According to the Elections
ocratic candidates, Keith Fitzgerald and Liz
Commission, a card loaded with $500 was purAlpert, in the name of Sarasota County Council of Neighborhood Associations President chased that same day at a Sarasota Sweetbay
Lourdes Ramirez. A Republican, Ramirez is by "an individual resembling" Waechter.
a likely 2014 County Commission candidate. Elections Commission staff and Waechter
Waechter's trial isn't scheduled to begin till
Oct. 21 (with a docket sounding planned
for Oct. 7), but the state Elections Commission, responding to a complaint lodged by
reached an agreement in May to settle the issue, with Waechter accepting the $750 fine.
The commission itself ratified the order just
last month.
