“Grassroots” Tampa Rail Organization has Deep-Pocketed Backers that Stand to Profit

TAMPA – The self-described grassroots organization campaigning for rail in Tampa, known as Moving Hillsborough Forward, seems to be a front group operated wholly by the Tampa Bay Partnership. The Partnership is accused of misrepresenting themselves to the public for the purpose of influencing the vote to suit their own interests.

The Tampa Bay Partnership describes itself as a CEO-led regional economic development organization. The Partnership has over 150 member notable organizations and sizable interests such as Baycare, Blue Cross Blue Shield. The Florida Communications Group (owners of the Tribune, WFLA, TBO.com and others), Moffitt Cancer Center, Carlton Fields, Progress Energy, Sykes Enterprises, Teco Energy and USF among others.

“The few folks who will benefit from rail are lobbying with Moving Hillsborough Forward to characterize themselves (and) their interests as the community’s view,” stated Brian Blair, former Hillsborough County Commissioner and activist who has been critical of the rail plan. “It’s another example of government greed. They are using these groups to push their own agenda.”

Political, advertising or public relations campaigns that are formally planned by an organization, but disguised as spontaneous populism are often referred to as “Astroturf” groups to differentiate them from true grass root movements.

Arthur Yann, the Vice President of PR at the headquarters of the Public Relations Society of America explained their professional code of ethics. “A high level of disclosure and transparency is expected to allow an informed opinion,” says Yann. “It is too high a burden to expect the average consumer or voter to dig into state filings and records to discover a group’s true identity.”

Yann then referenced the PRSA Professional Standards Advisory PS-7 which covers this activity in detail:

“A variety of organizations - known as "front" groups – as well as individuals, have surfaced on behalf of issues and products blindly sponsored by industries and organizations. PRSA members are reminded that open communication is essential for informed decision-making in a democratic society…."

The PRSA Member Code of Ethics prohibits members from assisting front groups and individuals that represent undisclosed sponsorships and/or deceptive or misleading descriptions of goals, causes, tactics, sponsors or participants, even if such activities are lawful, such as 527 organizations.

In March of 2010 the Tampa Bay Partnership created the local political action group called “Moving Hillsborough Forward,” which shares office space and staff with their affiliated parent, the Partnership, though it maintains its own bank account.

Their recent launch of televised advertising is identified as originating from “Moving Hillsborough Forward,” which represents itself as “a grassroots coalition of Hillsborough County residents, neighborhoods, environmentalists, businesses, civic groups and community leaders.”

The advertisements have no mention of the Tampa Bay Partnership. The website of Moving Hillsborough Forward website notes the Partnership as one of their “fellow supporters.” The website ownership is registered to Katie Franco, Director of Public Policy at Tampa Bay Partnership, who also runs the Moving Hillsborough Forward Linkedin group.

Margie Martin, Communications Director at Moving Hillsborough Forward admitted “The committee is considered a separate fund under the Tampa Bay Partnership (TBP) for IRS purposes. The TBP was disclosed as the connected organization on the Political Committee filing.”

Ms. Martin is the owner of Martin Communications, which shows Moving Hillsborough Forward as a client on the company website, as well as the Tampa Bay Partnership and Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority. Her company is contracted at a $3,000 a month rate to provide communications services according to Moving Hillsborough Forward financial reports. She refused to comment on her employment status.

Kelly Kavanaugh serves both in Financial Management at Moving Hillsborough Forward as well as being the Director of Finance and Administration at the Tampa Bay Partnership. She refers to the political group as a “Tampa Bay Partnership Political Committee” on her linkedin profile.

Gary Sasso is the Chair, Deputy Treasurer and Registered Agent at Moving Hillsborough Forward while also a board member and Vice Director of the Partnership. He is President and CEO of Carlton Fields, a Tampa Bay Partnership member.

Chuck Sykes is the Treasurer of Moving Hillsborough Forward, while also a Tampa Bay Partnership member, board member and Director.

Stuart Rogel acts as Deputy Treasurer at Moving Hillsborough Forward while simultaneously is the President and CEO of the Tampa Bay Partnership.

Within six months, Moving Hillsborough Forward has raised over one million dollars. Their first donor was Suntrust Bank for $50,000 on March 26th. Suntrust is a member of the Partnership and is the bank used by Moving Hillsborough Forward.

Ten interns were recruited from USF by a Partnership member using a Partnership email for contact. Student interns are receiving school credit for their work.

The first fundraising report identifies the Tampa Bay Partnership as an “affiliated or connected organization,” defining this relationship as “committee organizers and member of a coalition group”.

A young professional group TRANSITion Tampa Bay has a website and is orchestrating events to rally on the rail issue. They identify several members as well as the Tampa Bay Partnership and Moving Hillsborough Forward as partners, in addition to the young professional programs of the Clearwater and Tampa Chambers, plus the local NAIOP chapter. There is no political or nonprofit filing for this group in the state of Florida.

Requests for information to the young professional group were responded to by Betty Carlin, Tampa Bay Partnership Director of Communications, informing that the young professionals group is a committee of the Tampa Bay Partnership.

In Pinellas County, a new organization “Transit Works Pinellas” was created in July. It does not yet record any officers or directors, listing CFRA LLC as the registered agent. CFRA is a subsidiary of Carlton Fields, a member of the Tampa Bay Partnership.

Joel Jiles of Carlton Fields said he filed the paperwork for Transit Works Pinellas, describing it as a cooperative effort of the Clearwater, Largo and Saint Petersburg Chambers, as well as the Pinellas Realtors Association and the Tampa Bay Partnership. It will advocate for transportation issues in Pinellas County.

The Tampa Bay Partnership as a 501(c)(6) organization is entitled to lobby and conduct political activities. This designation for business leagues and allows them to further their exempt purposes through lobbying, even as their primary activity.

“A business wanting a loan to do this would need a solid business plan to show the bank. But this is to the voters, not a bank, so the businesses that will benefit directly from the rail plan only need a tremendous PR Campaign. When you are only telling one side of the story… a half truth is a lie,” remarked Blair.

Karen Jaroch of NoTaxForTracks.com exclaims “Moving Hillsborough Forward calling itself 'grassroots’ is laughable. How can a group formed by powerful special interests with a paid staff and profit motive consider themselves such? While a true grassroots cause is irrigated by sweat, an Astroturf one is nourished by money; and Moving Hillsborough Forward has received a lot it from special interests like bankers, land use attorneys, developers, engineering firms and downtown corporate interests that have a vested interest in rail versus expanded bus service.”

The Tampa Bay Partnership and its affiliate Moving Hillsborough Forward staff members refused to answer questions regarding these concerns.