Misdemeanor charges recommended for three Democratic Sarasota County Commission candidates

SARASOTA COUNTY – The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office has recommended criminal charges against the three Democratic candidates for County Commission for accepting campaign donations above what’s allowed in local elections.

The Sheriff’s Office has found probable cause to believe that candidates Mark Pienkos, Cory Hutchinson and Alice White committed misdemeanor campaign finance violations.

The candidates were issued nonarrest probable cause affidavits late last week. Ultimately, the State Attorney’s Office will determine whether to pursue the charges.

Violation of local campaign finance laws comes with a fine of $500 or 60 days in jail.

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This month, some members of the Republican-led Sarasota County Commission said that they wanted to come down hard on the three Democratic commission candidates.

Read more: https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/politics/elections/2020/10/29/charges-recommended-candidates-mark-pienkos-cory-hutchinson-alice-white/6071099002/
(Sarasota Herald Tribune)