Top Florida Dem Fundraiser fined

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Florida fundraiser fined more than $209,000

A top fundraiser for the Florida Democratic Party has agreed to pay more than $200,000 to settle more than 200 election-law violations.

A veteran fundraiser for the Florida Democratic Party has agreed to pay more than $200,000 to settle charges that a fundraising organization he once led committed numerous election-law violations.

State House Democrats, led at the time by former Rep. Chris Smith of Fort Lauderdale, set up Florida House Victory in 2003 to raise money independently of the state party during a time when legislative leaders were at odds with the party chairman, Scott Maddox.

But the Florida Elections Commission ruled last year that the fundraising committee, which has since been shut down, accepted campaign contributions above legal limits. The commission found enough evidence to charge Florida House Victory with 209 violations of election law.

Instead of challenging the charges, which Democrats say were the result of routine paperwork mistakes, Jeff Ryan, the brother of former State Rep. Tim Ryan, agreed to pay $209,000 in fines. Ryan, the chief fundraiser for House Democrats, was the official chairman of Florida House Victory even though it was set up at the urging of legislators.

Miami Herald - Read Full Text