Ex-Sarasota GOP chief Waechter pleads guilty in illegal donation scheme (updated)

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Robert Waechter, once one of the region’s biggest behind-the-scenes political players, completed his public fall from grace Thursday by confessing in court to “underhanded” tactics, pleading guilty to a felony but avoiding prison for making false campaign donations to smear a Republican rival.

Former Sarasota County Republican Party chairman Robert Waechter stands outside Judge Donna Berlin's courtroom after pleaded guilty to a felony and a misdemeanor on Thursday morning for making illegal campaign donations in the name of a political rival in a bid to undermine her political career. (Herald-Tribune staff photo by Dan Wagner)

Former Sarasota County Republican Party chairman Robert Waechter stands outside Judge Donna Berlin's courtroom after pleaded guilty to a felony and a misdemeanor on Thursday morning for making illegal campaign donations in the name of a political rival in a bid to undermine her political career. (Herald-Tribune staff photo by Dan Wagner)

A judge sentenced Waechter, the former head of the Sarasota County Republican Party, to three months under house arrest, two years of probation, 100 hours of community service and $5,000 in fines. He is also required to pay more than $2,000 of investigative and court costs associated with the case.

“My ill-advised actions in a few moments of sophomoric hand-rubbing glee have cost me,” Waechter, 71, said in a statement to 12th Judicial Circuit Court judge Donna Berlin.

According to prosecutors, in 2012 Waechter used a prepaid debit card to make campaign contributions to three Democratic candidates in the name of Lourdes Ramirez, a Siesta Key Republican who is running for the Sarasota County Commission.

The false donations were intended to make Ramirez look like she was supporting Democrats when she was not, said assistant state attorney Brian A. Iten.

Ironically, Waechter’s misdeed was uncovered by the good manners of an unknowing recipient of his false donations. Sarasota Democrat Keith Fitzgerald, then running for Congress, sent an unsuspecting Ramirez a thank-you note for a donation she never gave. If not for the note alerting her, Ramirez said she never would have gone to authorities.

Instead of submarining Ramirez’s political career, Waechter has hobbled, if not ended, his own.

The court penalties levied Thursday are in addition to $5,000 in fines imposed against Waechter this fall by the Federal Election Commission for making false donations to federal candidates for office.

Waechter has also been pressured out of his positions on public boards and commissions in the area. He was formerly a member of the Sarasota-Bradenton Airport Authority, the Sarasota County’s Tourism Development Council and the Board of Zoning Appeals before being charged with the felony last December.

Under the terms of a plea bargain, the judge agreed to withhold adjudication of the felony, which means even though Waechter pleaded guilty, he is not a felon and avoids forfeiting his right to vote and hold public office.

Waechter could have faced five years in prison if a jury had convicted him on the felony charge of making an election contribution in the name of another.

He also pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of harassment by use of personal identification.

“I have embarrassed myself and I have caused great embarrassment to my family and friends,” Waechter said in court.

Prosecutors said Waechter gave Fitzgerald $200, President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign $250 and state legislative candidate Liz Alpert, also a Democrat, $35.

Waechter told the judge there was no justification for his actions.

“Politics can be a contentious and sometimes bruising exercise, but it should be truth-based and need not be, nor should it be, underhanded,” Waechter said.

Lourdes Ramirez addresses Judge Donna Berlin. (Herald-Tribune staff photo by Dan Wagner)

Lourdes Ramirez addresses Judge Donna Berlin. (Herald-Tribune staff photo by Dan Wagner)

Ramirez said in court that Waechter’s actions had widespread ramifications.

“I really believe that it is important to note, that it is not just me he offended when he made those contributions, it was to undermine the democratic process,” Ramirez said.

By pleading guilty, Waechter avoided a potentially messy trial, scheduled for March, that would have included other key players, including County Commission candidate Alan Maio, who is running against Ramirez.

Iten said in court he was prepared to have County Commissioner Nora Patterson testify that Waechter had asked her to endorse Maio in the fall when Waechter was making the donations. Iten also told the court that Waechter made the donations in support of Maio and that the two dined together 10 to 12 times last year.

But after the hearing, Waechter said in an interview that Iten was wrong. He said he did not make the donations to help Maio and did not dine with Maio until after the donations had been made.

“He had nothing to do with this,” Waechter said of Maio.

Maio’s attorney, Morgan Bentley, also objected to Iten’s statements. After the hearing Bentley sent Iten a letter calling it “pure fantasy” to link Waechter’s actions to Maio.

“It is bad enough that Ms. Ramirez has been dragged into the Waechter case; dragging Mr. Maio into this case simply expands the circle of people affected by Mr. Waechter and his actions,” Bentley wrote in the letter to Iten.

Though he never held a substantial elected office, Waechter wielded considerable influence over the last several years, helping elect county commissioners in both Manatee and Sarasota counties. He was the Sarasota Republican Party chairman from 2004 to 2006 and became a campaign adviser for three of the five current Sarasota County commissioners — Carolyn Mason, Patterson and Charles Hines, all Republicans. He was also a key player in helping a fourth member of the board, Christine Robinson, gain appointment to the commission by then-Gov. Charlie Crist.

In 2012, he helped run a political action committee with donations from prominent local developers to support of Manatee County commissioner Betsy Benac in her election over fellow Republican and incumbent Joe McClash.

AT A GLANCE
Former Sarasota County Republican Party chairman Robert Waechter pleaded guilty to a felony and a misdemeanor on Thursday for his role in submitting false campaign donations in the name of a political rival. A quick look at the case:

WHAT HE DID: In 2012, Waechter used a prepaid debit card to make campaign donations to three Democratic candidates in the name of Lourdes Ramirez, a Republican who is running for the Sarasota County Commission. Prosecutors say the donations were meant to undermine Ramirez in a potential 2014 Republican primary.

WHO GOT DONATIONS: Waechter gave $250 to President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign, $200 to Democratic congressional candidate Keith Fitzgerald and $35 to state legislative candidate Liz Alpert.

THE CHARGES: Making an election contribution in the name of another (two or more times), a third-degree felony; harassment by use of personal identification information, a misdemeanor.

THE SENTENCE: Three months of community control (house arrest), 2 years of probation, 100 hours of community service, $5,000 fine, $2,000 in reimbursed investigative costs, public apology to Ramirez.
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Jeremy Wallace

Jeremy Wallace has covered politics for more than 15 years. He can be reached by email or call (941) 361-4966. ""More Wallace" Make sure to "Like" HT Politics on Facebook for all your breaking political news.
Last modified: December 12, 2013
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