Business leaders write five-figure checks to Charlie Crist committee

A committee supporting U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist’s latest run for Governor has already pulled in $87,000 in June.

The biggest donation came from Kris Lawrence, a Southwest Ranches business owner with strong business ties to the Seminole Tribal Council. He gave $15,000 to the political committee Friends of Charlie Crist.

It wasn’t the only five-figure check written to the committee so far this month. Red Apple CEO John Catsimatidis, Odessa lawyer Vincent Pawlowski, Highland Beach private investigator Jeff Hollander and Jupiter accountant Kimberly Cobb all gave $10,000 a piece to the Republican Governor-turned-Democratic-Congressman.

Catsimatidis stands out as the most high-profile “Friend” to chip in this month. The billionaire talk show host is the only one on the list of major donors in June who doesn’t live in Florida. He holds billions in assets in New York and Florida real estate, including in St. Pete, and owns Gristedes Foods, the biggest supermarket chain serving Manhattan. He boasts a friendship with former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Read more: https://floridapolitics.com/archives/436721-business-leaders-write-five-figure-checks-to-charlie-crist-committee/