The Garden Report

How we got 0 trees

• 5Everyone starts with 5 trees
• −2Voted to give the church part of South Garden Avenue, June 18, 2026
• −2Voted to give Grove Street, part of Laura Street and an alley to a church-tied developer (passed 3–2, final approval Oct. 1, 2026)
• −1Voted to sell the city lot at 103 N. East Ave. to church-tied Myrtle Development for $1 million instead of leasing it (only bidder; passed 4–1), Sept. 28, 2026
• −2Voted to give the church right-of-way on N. Osceola Avenue, Dec. 2021
• −1Asked the Attorney General for the opinion the church suggested, after meeting church leaders
• −1Supported asking the Attorney General whether the Garden Avenue referendum petition, signed by more than 10,000 residents, violates state law, a step that could block a public vote, Sept. 17, 2026
• 0Rating (0 to 5 trees)

Money from Scientologists

• No 2026 campaign. Campaign reports from earlier elections have not yet been reviewed.

Party money passed through (shown for context, not rated)

• No Pinellas County GOP contribution or in-kind spending for this person appears in the party's filings from 2023 through Aug. 13, 2026.

Actions

• Yes on giving the church part of South Garden Avenue, June 18, 2026.
• Yes on giving Grove Street, part of Laura Street and an alley to a church-tied developer: first reading Sept. 17, 2026, final approval (3-2) Oct. 1, 2026.
• Met with church leaders, including David Miscavige, who suggested he ask for an Attorney General opinion. He then asked for it.
• Part of a unanimous 2021 vote granting the church right-of-way on N. Osceola Avenue.
• One of three council members who supported asking the Attorney General whether Save the Garden's referendum petition on Garden Avenue violates state law, Sept. 17, 2026. Mayor Rector and Council member Teixeira called it unnecessary. No formal vote was taken.
• Voted, as a member of the Community Redevelopment Agency, to sell the city-owned lot at 103 N. East Ave. to church-tied Myrtle Development LLC for $1 million, Sept. 28, 2026 (passed 4-1). Myrtle was the only bidder; the minimum price was $875,000. The lot is for EVO Entertainment parking.

Sources

• Florida Politics, June 19, 2026
• WUSF, Sept. 18, 2026
• Tony Ortega on the Wall Street Journal report, July 7, 2026
• Tampa Bay Times via Yahoo, Nov. 21, 2025
• Tampa Bay Times via Tampa Bay Beacons, July 1, 2026
• Tampa Bay Times via Yahoo, Sept. 18, 2026: Clearwater seeking AG opinion on resident Garden Avenue petition
• St. Pete Catalyst: EVO project clears another hurdle in Clearwater (CRA lot sale)
• Tampa Bay 28, Oct. 2, 2026: Clearwater City Council votes 3-2 to vacate more streets in downtown Clearwater

How we got 0 trees

• 5Everyone starts with 5 trees
• −2Voted to give the church part of South Garden Avenue, June 18, 2026
• −2Voted to give Grove Street, part of Laura Street and an alley to a church-tied developer (passed 3–2, final approval Oct. 1, 2026)
• −1Voted to sell the city lot at 103 N. East Ave. to church-tied Myrtle Development for $1 million instead of leasing it (only bidder; passed 4–1), Sept. 28, 2026
• −1Supported asking the Attorney General whether the Garden Avenue referendum petition, signed by more than 10,000 residents, violates state law, a step that could block a public vote, Sept. 17, 2026
• 0Rating (0 to 5 trees)

Money from Scientologists

• His 2024 campaign reports have not yet been reviewed.

Party money passed through (shown for context, not rated)

• The Pinellas County GOP took $67,250 from confirmed Scientologists and companies they run, out of $1,061,973 it raised from January 2024 through Aug. 13, 2026, a 6.3% share. Company gifts are counted only where state corporate records list a confirmed Scientologist as the officer or manager.
• The party reported $2,004.98 in in-kind support for him in 2024. At 6.3%, about $127 of that is Scientologist-linked.
• That is under $1,000 and does not change his rating, which already sits at the maximum because of his votes.

Actions

• Yes on South Garden Avenue, June 18, 2026.
• Yes on giving Grove Street, part of Laura Street and an alley to a church-tied developer: first reading Sept. 17, 2026, final approval (3-2) Oct. 1, 2026. He called it “strategically leveraging a public asset.”
• One of three council members who supported asking the Attorney General whether Save the Garden's referendum petition on Garden Avenue violates state law, Sept. 17, 2026. Mayor Rector and Council member Teixeira called it unnecessary. No formal vote was taken.
• Voted, as a member of the Community Redevelopment Agency, to sell the city-owned lot at 103 N. East Ave. to church-tied Myrtle Development LLC for $1 million, Sept. 28, 2026 (passed 4-1). Myrtle was the only bidder; the minimum price was $875,000. The lot is for EVO Entertainment parking.

Sources

• Florida Politics, June 19, 2026
• WUSF, Sept. 18, 2026
• Tampa Bay Times via Yahoo, Sept. 18, 2026: Clearwater seeking AG opinion on resident Garden Avenue petition
• St. Pete Catalyst: EVO project clears another hurdle in Clearwater (CRA lot sale)
• Tampa Bay 28, Oct. 2, 2026: Clearwater City Council votes 3-2 to vacate more streets in downtown Clearwater
• Pinellas County GOP filings, Pinellas Supervisor of Elections

How we got 0 trees

• 5Everyone starts with 5 trees
• −2Voted to give the church part of South Garden Avenue, June 18, 2026
• −2Voted to give Grove Street, part of Laura Street and an alley to a church-tied developer (passed 3–2, final approval Oct. 1, 2026)
• −1Voted to sell the city lot at 103 N. East Ave. to church-tied Myrtle Development for $1 million instead of leasing it (only bidder; passed 4–1), Sept. 28, 2026
• −1Supported asking the Attorney General whether the Garden Avenue referendum petition, signed by more than 10,000 residents, violates state law, a step that could block a public vote, Sept. 17, 2026
• 0Rating (0 to 5 trees)

Money from Scientologists

• His 2024 campaign reports have not yet been reviewed.
• The Pinellas County GOP gave his campaign $1,000 on Feb. 27, 2024, less than three weeks after the party took $25,000 from four confirmed Scientologists and one likely one. Party money is noted but not scored.

Party money passed through (shown for context, not rated)

• The Pinellas County GOP took $67,250 from confirmed Scientologists and companies they run, out of $1,061,973 it raised from January 2024 through Aug. 13, 2026, a 6.3% share. Company gifts are counted only where state corporate records list a confirmed Scientologist as the officer or manager.
• The party gave his campaign $1,000 on Feb. 27, 2024, and reported $2,314.09 in in-kind support for him in 2024. At 6.3%, about $210 of that $3,314 is Scientologist-linked.
• That is under $1,000 and does not change his rating, which already sits at the maximum because of his votes.

Actions

• Yes on South Garden Avenue, June 18, 2026.
• Yes on giving Grove Street, part of Laura Street and an alley to a church-tied developer: first reading Sept. 17, 2026, final approval (3-2) Oct. 1, 2026.
• One of three council members who supported asking the Attorney General whether Save the Garden's referendum petition on Garden Avenue violates state law, Sept. 17, 2026. Mayor Rector and Council member Teixeira called it unnecessary. No formal vote was taken.
• Voted, as a member of the Community Redevelopment Agency, to sell the city-owned lot at 103 N. East Ave. to church-tied Myrtle Development LLC for $1 million, Sept. 28, 2026 (passed 4-1). Myrtle was the only bidder; the minimum price was $875,000. The lot is for EVO Entertainment parking.

Sources

• Florida Politics, June 19, 2026
• WUSF, Sept. 18, 2026
• Pinellas Supervisor of Elections search
• Tampa Bay Times via Yahoo, Sept. 18, 2026: Clearwater seeking AG opinion on resident Garden Avenue petition
• St. Pete Catalyst: EVO project clears another hurdle in Clearwater (CRA lot sale)
• Tampa Bay 28, Oct. 2, 2026: Clearwater City Council votes 3-2 to vacate more streets in downtown Clearwater
• Pinellas County GOP filings, Pinellas Supervisor of Elections

How we got 2½ trees

• 5Everyone starts with 5 trees
• −½$500 from Scientologist Joy Gendusa
• −1Refused to sign the Save The Garden petition to put the Garden Avenue giveaway to a public vote; the only city council candidate who did
• −½Endorsed by Penny Jones, a self-described Scientology minister
• −½Endorsed by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna and by council members Allbritton, Cotton and Mannino, all rated 1 tree or less (endorsement penalty capped at 1 tree total)
• 2½Rating (0 to 5 trees)

Money from Scientologists

• $500 from Joy Gendusa on Aug. 21, 2026, a Scientologist profiled by the church's Freedom Magazine. She is the only documented Scientologist among his donors.
• His campaign raised $43,026 plus $905 in in-kind support from Feb. 19 through Sept. 4, 2026, according to his treasurer's reports filed with the City Clerk. None of his other donors match a confirmed or likely Scientologist, including Rep. Luna's Scientologist donors.
• His political committee, Clearwater Families for Affordability, shows no documented Scientologist donors.
• About $55 more comes from county GOP spending for him (see Party money passed through). Together that is about $555, under $1,000 and under 1% of the money raised for him.

Party money passed through (shown for context, not rated)

• The Pinellas County GOP took $67,250 from confirmed Scientologists and companies they run, out of $1,061,973 it raised from January 2024 through Aug. 13, 2026, a 6.3% share. Company gifts are counted only where state corporate records list a confirmed Scientologist as the officer or manager.
• The party paid Election Connections $865.38 for digital ads for him in June 2026, which his campaign reported as in-kind support.
• At 6.3%, about $55 of that is Scientologist-linked. Added to Joy Gendusa's $500, his total stays under $1,000.

Actions

• No voting record.

Public backing

• Penny Jones, who calls herself a “Minister of the Church of Scientology,” urged residents to vote for him as someone “on our side”.
• Endorsed by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (rated 0 trees) when he launched his campaign, Feb. 20, 2026.
• Endorsed by all three council members who voted to give Garden Avenue to the church, each rated 1 tree or less: David Allbritton, Ryan Cotton and Mike Mannino. Cotton ($500) and Allbritton ($100) also gave to his campaign.

Not counted in the rating: he was District Director for Rep. Luna. Asked how he would have voted on Garden Avenue, he was "noncommittal," saying he hadn't done the same amount of research as the current council members, and added: "[I] would only approve something if it activated downtown" (Creative Loafing, July 2026). Save The Garden, which publishes this report, circulates the petition.

Sources

• City of Clearwater campaign finance portal
• Freedom Magazine profile of Joy Gendusa
• Creative Loafing, July 2026
• Florida Division of Elections database
• Florida Voice, Feb. 20, 2026: Wilson launches bid with support from Rep. Luna
• Pinellas County GOP filings, Pinellas Supervisor of Elections
• Sam Wilson campaign treasurer's reports, Feb. 19 to Sept. 4, 2026

How we got 3 trees

• 5Everyone starts with 5 trees
• −3Clearwater Strong PC spent about $70,000 on mailers for him; about $32,200 of it traces to Scientologists, who supplied 46% of the money at the top of its funding chain
• +1Signed the Save The Garden petition to put the Garden Avenue giveaway to a public vote
• 3Rating (0 to 5 trees)

Money from Scientologists

• Clearwater Strong PC spent about $70,000 on mailers supporting him. The money moved through a chain of PACs, and documented Scientologists gave 46% of the money at the top of that chain.
• That makes about $32,200 of it Scientologist-linked, roughly 39% of the $83,000 in combined resources behind his campaign.
• His own campaign account shows no documented Scientologist donors.

Party money passed through (shown for context, not rated)

• No Pinellas County GOP contribution or in-kind spending for this person appears in the party's filings from 2023 through Aug. 13, 2026.

Actions

• Not yet seated, so no votes.

The PAC spent independently of his campaign. This rating reflects where the money came from, not a claim that he coordinated with anyone. Save The Garden, which publishes this report, circulates the petition.

Sources

• Florida Politics, Aug. 15, 2026
• City of Clearwater campaign finance portal
• Florida Division of Elections database

How we got 5 trees

• 5Everyone starts with 5 trees
• +1Voted no on giving the church South Garden Avenue, June 18, 2026
• +1Voted no on giving Grove Street, part of Laura Street and an alley to a church-tied developer, Oct. 1, 2026 (passed 3–2)
• +1Cast the only vote against selling the city lot at 103 N. East Ave. to church-tied Myrtle Development, saying the city should lease it instead, Sept. 28, 2026
• +1Said publicly the church has "grown their footprint enough in downtown Clearwater," May 12, 2025
• 5Rating (0 to 5 trees)

Money from Scientologists

• No documented Scientologist money in 2026 records. His 2024 mayoral reports have not yet been reviewed.

Party money passed through (shown for context, not rated)

• No Pinellas County GOP contribution or in-kind spending for this person appears in the party's filings from 2023 through Aug. 13, 2026.

Actions

• No on South Garden Avenue, June 18, 2026.
• No on giving Grove Street, part of Laura Street and an alley to a church-tied developer: first reading Sept. 17, 2026, and final vote Oct. 1, 2026 (passed 3-2).
• Publicly questioned Allbritton about meeting with the church before contacting the Attorney General.
• Publicly criticized the church's expansion at the May 12, 2025 Garden Avenue meeting: "I think they've grown their footprint enough in downtown Clearwater".
• Cast the only vote against selling the city-owned lot at 103 N. East Ave. to church-tied Myrtle Development LLC for $1 million, Sept. 28, 2026, saying he preferred leasing it so the city keeps control: "Once we convey it, we convey it."
• Opposed asking the Attorney General to review Save the Garden's referendum petition, Sept. 17, 2026.

Sources

• Florida Politics, June 19, 2026
• WUSF, Sept. 18, 2026
• Tampa Bay Times via Yahoo, Nov. 21, 2025
• FOX 13, May 12, 2025
• St. Pete Catalyst: EVO project clears another hurdle in Clearwater (CRA lot sale)
• Tampa Bay 28, Oct. 2, 2026: Clearwater City Council votes 3-2 to vacate more streets in downtown Clearwater
• Tampa Bay Times via Yahoo, Sept. 18, 2026: Clearwater seeking AG opinion on resident Garden Avenue petition

How we got 5 trees

• 5Everyone starts with 5 trees
• +1Voted no on giving the church South Garden Avenue, June 18, 2026
• +1Voted no on giving Grove Street, part of Laura Street and an alley to a church-tied developer, Oct. 1, 2026 (passed 3–2)
• −1Voted to sell the city lot at 103 N. East Ave. to church-tied Myrtle Development for $1 million instead of leasing it (only bidder; passed 4–1), Sept. 28, 2026
• 5Rating (0 to 5 trees)

Money from Scientologists

• Campaign reports from earlier elections have not yet been reviewed.

Party money passed through (shown for context, not rated)

• No Pinellas County GOP contribution or in-kind spending for this person appears in the party's filings from 2023 through Aug. 13, 2026.

Actions

• No on South Garden Avenue, June 18, 2026.
• No on giving Grove Street, part of Laura Street and an alley to a church-tied developer: first reading Sept. 17, 2026, and final vote Oct. 1, 2026 (passed 3-2).
• Voted, as a member of the Community Redevelopment Agency, to sell the city-owned lot at 103 N. East Ave. to church-tied Myrtle Development LLC for $1 million, Sept. 28, 2026 (passed 4-1). Myrtle was the only bidder; the minimum price was $875,000. The lot is for EVO Entertainment parking.
• Opposed asking the Attorney General to review Save the Garden's referendum petition, Sept. 17, 2026. "The residents followed the charter. They gathered the signatures. They spoke. Twice."

Sources

• Florida Politics, June 19, 2026
• WUSF, Sept. 18, 2026
• St. Pete Catalyst: EVO project clears another hurdle in Clearwater (CRA lot sale)
• Tampa Bay 28, Oct. 2, 2026: Clearwater City Council votes 3-2 to vacate more streets in downtown Clearwater
• Tampa Bay Times via Yahoo, Sept. 18, 2026: Clearwater seeking AG opinion on resident Garden Avenue petition

How we got 5 trees

• 5Everyone starts with 5 trees
• −2Voted with a unanimous council to give the church right-of-way on N. Osceola Avenue, Dec. 2021
• +1Signed the Save The Garden petition to put the Garden Avenue giveaway to a public vote; the first person to sign it
• +1Spoke out publicly against the church's influence in the 2026 race
• +1Targeted by the church for opposing it: barred by a court injunction from coming within 10 feet of Scientologists downtown, cited for trespassing at a church base after a church staffer's citizen's arrest in 2009 (charges dropped), and, by his account, sent church records requests every two months while on the council
• 5Rating (0 to 5 trees)

Money from Scientologists

• No documented Scientologist donors in his 2026 campaign.

Party money passed through (shown for context, not rated)

• No Pinellas County GOP contribution or in-kind spending for this person appears in the party's filings from 2023 through Aug. 13, 2026.

Actions

• Voted yes on Dec. 2, 2021 (5-0) and again on Dec. 16, 2021 to give up part of N. Osceola Avenue at the request of the Church of Scientology Flag Service Org., owner of 300 Jones St. (Ordinance 9516-21). Video of the Dec. 2 vote starts at 16:45; see sources.
• Publicly criticized the church's influence in the 2026 race: "I wouldn't foolishly blindly believe that Scientology has Clearwater's best interest at heart" (Creative Loafing, July 2026).

Save The Garden, which publishes this report, circulates the petition.

Sources

• Council meeting video, Dec. 2, 2021, item 7.1: vote at 16:45
• Ordinance 9516-21 record and roll call, City of Clearwater
• Pinellas County Property Appraiser: 300 Jones St. owned by Church of Scientology Flag Service Org Inc
• Tampa Bay Times via Tampa Bay Beacons, July 1, 2026
• Creative Loafing, July 2026
• City of Clearwater campaign finance portal
• Wikipedia: Mark Bunker (2001 refusal of service; Feb. 24, 2009 trespass citation)
• Scientology: Fair Game podcast, Episode 12: Mark Bunker (injunction, arrests)
• Tony Ortega, July 22, 2026: Bunker on church records requests during his council term

How we got 4 trees

• 5Everyone starts with 5 trees
• −1$1,500 from three Scientologists
• 4Rating (0 to 5 trees)

Money from Scientologists

• Constantin Haag $500 (Oct. 7, 2022), David Minkoff $500 (Oct. 8, 2022), Patrick Clouden $500 (Sept. 14, 2026).

Party money passed through (shown for context, not rated)

• No Pinellas County GOP contribution or in-kind spending for this person appears in the party's filings from 2023 through Aug. 13, 2026.

Actions

• No commission vote benefiting the church was found.

Sources

• Pinellas Supervisor of Elections search
• Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners

How we got 4½ trees

• 5Everyone starts with 5 trees
• −½$250 from a Scientologist to her 2014 Florida House campaign
• 4½Rating (0 to 5 trees)

Money from Scientologists

• Brett Miller $250 (Oct. 11, 2014) to her Florida House campaign.
• No documented Scientologist donors in county records since 2016.

Party money passed through (shown for context, not rated)

• No Pinellas County GOP contribution or in-kind spending for this person appears in the party's filings from 2023 through Aug. 13, 2026.

Actions

• No commission vote benefiting the church was found.

Not scored: As a state representative she spoke at the Nov. 7, 2015 grand opening of Narconon Suncoast, the church-linked drug rehab center in Clearwater: "Here is a group to have on our team." As a county commissioner she spoke at the November 2019 dedication of the Scientology Mission of Belleair: "I have found that the members of this community and this Church are those people."

Sources

• Pinellas Supervisor of Elections search
• Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners
• Florida Division of Elections database
• Scientology.org: Narconon Suncoast grand opening, Nov. 7, 2015
• Church press release: Scientology Mission of Belleair dedication, Nov. 2019

How we got 5 trees

• 5Everyone starts with 5 trees
• −1$1,600 from Scientologists to his old Florida House campaigns
• +1Publicly criticized the church's records requests and urged a delay on the Garden Avenue vote, 2026
• +1Targeted by the church after opposing the Garden Avenue vote: church records requests for his communications and those of his family, 2026
• 5Rating (0 to 5 trees)

Money from Scientologists

• Todd Kugler $1,000 (Sept. 23, 2020), Hammer Haag Steel $500 (Oct. 12, 2018; run by Scientologist Constantin Haag) and Brett Miller $100 (Sept. 20, 2013) to his Florida House campaigns.
• No documented Scientologist donors in county records since 2016.

Party money passed through (shown for context, not rated)

• No Pinellas County GOP contribution or in-kind spending for this person appears in the party's filings from 2023 through Aug. 13, 2026.

Actions

• No commission vote benefiting the church was found.
• Publicly criticized the church in a July 21, 2026 statement after it sent records requests for his communications: "On Friday, the day of my father's funeral, with several of their members in attendance I received a broader public records request from the Church of Scientology targeting members of my family and private citizens in Clearwater." In June 2026 he also publicly urged the council to delay the Garden Avenue vote.
• On the county's downtown land, said May 5, 2026: "What is undeniable is I believe they will be interested in this property. I also do not want this project to be used as leverage against Pinellas County."

Not scored: On Nov. 7, 2015, as a state representative, he spoke at the grand opening of Narconon Suncoast, the church-linked drug rehab center in Clearwater: "Our community needs this, and that is why I am very happy that Narconon Suncoast is here." In February 2021 he publicly attacked a Tampa Bay Times reporter over her Scientology coverage. Also not scored: hours before the June 2026 Garden Avenue vote he texted Council member Mannino urging a delay, and the church later sent him public records requests.

Sources

• Pinellas Supervisor of Elections search
• Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners
• Florida Division of Elections database
• Scientology.org: Narconon Suncoast grand opening, Nov. 7, 2015
• Tony Ortega, Feb. 24, 2021: Latvala goes after Tampa Bay Times
• Tampa Bay Times via Tampa Bay Beacons, July 1, 2026
• Tony Ortega, July 22, 2026: full text of Latvala's July 21 statement
• Tampa Bay Business & Wealth, May 5, 2026: Pinellas opens downtown Clearwater land to developers

How we got 5 trees

• 5Everyone starts with 5 trees
• −1$1,000 from a Scientologist
• +1Pushed to lease the county's downtown Clearwater land instead of selling it, so it stays in public ownership, April 7, 2026
• 5Rating (0 to 5 trees)

Money from Scientologists

• Constantin Haag $1,000 (Nov. 15, 2023).

Party money passed through (shown for context, not rated)

• No Pinellas County GOP contribution or in-kind spending for this person appears in the party's filings from 2023 through Aug. 13, 2026.

Actions

• No commission vote benefiting the church was found.
• Publicly supported leasing the county's downtown Clearwater properties instead of selling them, April 7, 2026. He said leasing would "provide us some control on the areas that we want to see activated."

Sources

• Pinellas Supervisor of Elections search
• Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners
• Tampa Bay Times via Yahoo, April 7, 2026: Pinellas deems 17 downtown Clearwater properties as surplus

How we got 5 trees

• 5Everyone starts with 5 trees
• +1Pushed to lease the county's downtown Clearwater land instead of selling it, so it stays in public ownership, April 7, 2026
• 5Rating (0 to 5 trees)

Money from Scientologists

• No documented Scientologist donors in county records.

Party money passed through (shown for context, not rated)

• No Pinellas County GOP contribution or in-kind spending for this person appears in the party's filings from 2023 through Aug. 13, 2026.

Actions

• No commission vote benefiting the church was found.
• Publicly supported leasing the county's downtown Clearwater properties instead of selling them, April 7, 2026.

Sources

• Pinellas Supervisor of Elections search
• Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners
• Tampa Bay Times via Yahoo, April 7, 2026: Pinellas deems 17 downtown Clearwater properties as surplus

How we got 0 trees

• 5Everyone starts with 5 trees
• −4$1,002,500 from Scientologists to the Florida Freedom Fund, the committee he chaired
• −1Issued the opinion that the church likely owns the land under Garden Avenue, which led the council to drop its $1 million price, Dec. 2025
• −1Warned the mayor against conditions on the Garden Avenue deal, June 2025
• 0Rating (0 to 5 trees)

Money from Scientologists

• Florida Freedom Fund, a political committee he chaired, took $1,000,000 from Trish Duggan (Aug. 28, 2024) and $2,500 from Terri Novitsky (Aug. 30, 2024).

Party money passed through (shown for context, not rated)

• Not scored. The Republican Party of Florida's state account shows no documented Scientologist money, and its federal account's $42,000 from the Duggans and Clouden is a tiny share spread across many races, so any pass-through rounds to zero.

Actions

• June 2025: warned Mayor Rector that tying the land deal to the church's other properties, or acting on religious grounds, would break Florida law.
• December 2025: answering Allbritton's request, issued an opinion that the church “most likely” owns the land under Garden Avenue and may seek its vacation without paying fair market value. The council then dropped its $1 million price.

Sources

• Florida Division of Elections database
• Florida Politics, Dec. 2, 2025
• Florida Politics, June 19, 2026
• Tony Ortega on the Wall Street Journal report, July 7, 2026

How we got 1 tree

• 5Everyone starts with 5 trees
• −4$1,002,500 from Scientologists to the Florida Freedom Fund, run by his chief of staff, plus about $6,600 to his campaigns
• 1Rating (0 to 5 trees)

Money from Scientologists

• Florida Freedom Fund, a political committee linked to him and chaired by his then-chief of staff James Uthmeier to fight the 2024 marijuana and abortion amendments, took $1,000,000 from Trish Duggan (Aug. 28, 2024) and $2,500 from Terri Novitsky (Aug. 30, 2024). Money to a committee run by a politician's own staff counts as theirs.
• His own campaigns: David Minkoff $3,500 (2022), Trish Duggan $1,000 (2018), Pat Clouden $1,000 (2018), Joy Gendusa $500 (2022), Paolo Tucci $200 (2022), Patrick Valtin $150, Aaron Cordovez $100 (2021), Constantin Haag $83 (2022), Dr. Vanessa Waugh $50, and $10 from Monica Agami (Likely, counted at half).

Party money passed through (shown for context, not rated)

• Not scored. The Republican Party of Florida's state account shows no documented Scientologist money, and its federal account's $42,000 from the Duggans and Clouden is a tiny share spread across many races, so any pass-through rounds to zero.

Actions

• No official action benefiting the church was found.
• No appointments of documented Scientologists to state or local boards were found in the governor's announcements searched.

Sources

• Florida Division of Elections database
• Creative Loafing, Sept. 10, 2024: Scientologist megadonor gives $1 million to DeSantis PAC

How we got 2½ trees

• 5Everyone starts with 5 trees
• −2$6,300 from three Scientologists to his governor campaign
• −½Endorsed by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, rated 0 trees
• 2½Rating (0 to 5 trees)

Money from Scientologists

• Pat Clouden $3,000 and Brett Miller $3,000 (both Jan. 5, 2026) and Todd Kugler $300 (Sept. 7, 2026) to his state campaign, $6,300 total.
• Not counted: $121 from a Greg Nelson and $100 from a Stuart Rosenbaum, because these could not be confirmed as the Scientologists with those names.
• None found to his congressional committee.

Party money passed through (shown for context, not rated)

• Not scored. The Republican Party of Florida's state account shows no documented Scientologist money, and its federal account's $42,000 from the Duggans and Clouden is a tiny share spread across many races, so any pass-through rounds to zero.

Actions

• No official action benefiting the church was found.

Public backing

• Endorsed by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (rated 0 trees) for governor, Aug. 11, 2025: "I am proud to endorse my friend Byron Donalds for governor.".

Sources

• Florida Division of Elections database
• FEC receipts, Byron Donalds for Congress (C00733329)
• Florida Voice: Rep. Anna Paulina Luna joins Trump, Scott in backing Byron Donalds

How we got 3 trees

• 5Everyone starts with 5 trees
• −2$21,900 from four Scientologists to his 2014 to 2016 congressional campaigns
• 3Rating (0 to 5 trees)

Money from Scientologists

• Trish Duggan $13,200 (2014 and 2016), David Minkoff $4,000 (2014 to 2016), Brett Miller $2,700 (2016) and Patrick Clouden $2,000 (2016) to Friends of David Jolly, his congressional committee.
• No documented Scientologist donors in his 2026 governor campaign's state records.

Party money passed through (shown for context, not rated)

• Not scored. Democratic Party spending for this candidate has not yet been reviewed.

Actions

• No official action found.

Not scored: The Tampa Bay Times reported he was a "guest of honor" at the church's Aug. 29, 2015 concert for Clearwater's centennial.

Sources

• FEC receipts, Friends of David Jolly (C00551572)
• Florida Division of Elections database
• Tampa Bay Times, Aug. 20, 2015: Jolly and his wife to hang with the Scientologists

How we got 4 trees

• 5Everyone starts with 5 trees
• −1$1,000 from Scientologist Pat Clouden
• 4Rating (0 to 5 trees)

Money from Scientologists

• Patrick Clouden $1,000 to his campaign (May 25, 2021).
• Checked all 2,192 contributions to his campaign accounts (2017 to Sept. 2026, $1,581,358) and all 744 contributions to his political committee, The Economic Freedom Committee, renamed Friends of Nick DiCeglie in 2022 ($3.2 million after removing a $102,000 transfer between the two), against every confirmed and likely Scientologist donor and company in this guide. Clouden is the only match.
• No money from any political committee known to take Scientologist money: Florida Freedom Fund, Keep Florida Clean, Engaged Florida, Defend Democracy PC, Democracy and Freedom, New Leadership for Florida, Our Democracy PC, Clearwater Strong PC, Integrity in Leadership or the Pinellas County GOP. The Republican Party of Florida gave $13,161 (2018 and 2026), and its state account shows no documented Scientologist money.
• Not counted: $7,000 from the chiropractors' ChiroPAC committees (2017 to 2023). A Clearwater chiropractor named Rene Reed has given small amounts to ChiroPAC, but he is not confirmed as the Scientologist who runs RJR Planning, and his share of that statewide industry PAC would be tiny.
• Not counted: $3,000 from Elise and Thomas Minkoff, St. Petersburg attorneys, who share a last name with Scientologist David Minkoff but are not documented Scientologists.

Party money passed through (shown for context, not rated)

• Not scored. The Republican Party of Florida's state account shows no documented Scientologist money, and its federal account's $42,000 from the Duggans and Clouden is a tiny share spread across many races, so any pass-through rounds to zero.

Actions

• No official action benefiting the church was found.

Sources

• Florida Division of Elections database
• Florida Politics: Nick DiCeglie PC exceeds $1M raised

How we got 4½ trees

• 5Everyone starts with 5 trees
• −½$50 from a likely Scientologist
• 4½Rating (0 to 5 trees)

Money from Scientologists

• Sean Clouden $50 (Jan. 4, 2026). Likely, counted at half.

Party money passed through (shown for context, not rated)

• Not scored. The Republican Party of Florida's state account shows no documented Scientologist money, and its federal account's $42,000 from the Duggans and Clouden is a tiny share spread across many races, so any pass-through rounds to zero.

Actions

• No voting record.

Sources

• Florida Division of Elections database

How we got 0 trees

• 5Everyone starts with 5 trees
• −4$111,848 from 14 Scientologist donors, 2020 to 2026
• −1Scientologists, including the church's Washington lobbyist, hosted a fundraiser for her, Sept. 12, 2026
• 0Rating (0 to 5 trees)

Money from Scientologists

• $110,848 from 13 confirmed Scientologist donors, 2020 through July 2026, plus $1,000 from Brett Miller (2022), including David Minkoff ($17,757), Norm Novitsky ($15,441), Tom Cummins, Jim Bridgeforth and Pat Clouden ($12,400 each), and Trish Duggan ($10,100).
• Another $24,200 came from 7 Likely donors (family members of confirmed donors).

Party money passed through (shown for context, not rated)

• Not scored. The Republican Party of Florida's state account shows no documented Scientologist money, and its federal account's $42,000 from the Duggans and Clouden is a tiny share spread across many races, so any pass-through rounds to zero.

Actions

• No official action benefiting the church was found.

Public backing

• Pat Clouden, Scientology's Washington lobbyist Greg Mitchell, and Penny Atwell Jones hosted a fundraiser for her on Sept. 12, 2026.

Sources

• FEC receipts, Anna Paulina Luna for Congress (C00718239)
• Tony Ortega, Aug. 8, 2026

How we got 3 trees

• 5Everyone starts with 5 trees
• −2$12,850 from Scientologists
• 3Rating (0 to 5 trees)

Money from Scientologists

• Norm Novitsky $7,600 (2020 to 2021), Brett Miller $2,250 (2016 to 2022), Patrick Clouden $2,000 (2022), Shahab Emrani $1,000 (2020). Likely: Ethan Novitsky $5,600 and Donna Andrus $250, counted at half.

Party money passed through (shown for context, not rated)

• Not scored. The Republican Party of Florida's state account shows no documented Scientologist money, and its federal account's $42,000 from the Duggans and Clouden is a tiny share spread across many races, so any pass-through rounds to zero.

Actions

• No official action benefiting the church was found.

Sources

• FEC receipts, Bilirakis for Congress (C00408534)

How we got 3 trees

• 5Everyone starts with 5 trees
• −2$24,500 from Scientologists and a company one runs
• 3Rating (0 to 5 trees)

Money from Scientologists

• Trish Duggan $7,600 (2018 to 2023); Patrick Clouden $5,400 net (2018) to his Senate campaign.
• Let's Get To Work, his governor's race political committee: Hammer Haag Steel $10,000 (Nov. 5, 2013; run by Scientologist Constantin Haag) and David Minkoff $1,500 (March 18, 2014).
• Total $24,500.

Party money passed through (shown for context, not rated)

• Not scored. The Republican Party of Florida's state account shows no documented Scientologist money, and its federal account's $42,000 from the Duggans and Clouden is a tiny share spread across many races, so any pass-through rounds to zero.

Actions

• No official action benefiting the church was found.

Sources

• FEC receipts, Rick Scott for Florida (C00676965)
• Florida Division of Elections database

How we got 4 trees

• 5Everyone starts with 5 trees
• −1$1,000 from a Scientologist to her 2018 attorney general campaign
• 4Rating (0 to 5 trees)

Money from Scientologists

• Brett Miller $1,000 (May 23, 2018) to her attorney general campaign.
• No documented Scientologist donors in her Senate campaign records.

Party money passed through (shown for context, not rated)

• Not scored. The Republican Party of Florida's state account shows no documented Scientologist money, and its federal account's $42,000 from the Duggans and Clouden is a tiny share spread across many races, so any pass-through rounds to zero.

Actions

• No official action found.

Sources

• Florida Division of Elections database
• FEC receipts, Moody for Florida (C00895763)