Historic Tours of America Provided $10,000 to Jack Niles PAC Behind Anti-Kaufman Texts
Finance filings show company owned by Ed Swift supplied more than 95% of committee’s funding as outside spending enters Key West primary
KEY WEST, Fla. — A political committee founded and chaired by prominent businessman Jack Niles that financed a series of text messages attacking Key West Mayoral candidate Sam Kaufman drew virtually all of its financial support from a single donor, according to newly filed campaign finance reports.
The reports show the committee raised $10,500 during the latest reporting period. Historic Tours of America, owned by Ed Swift and partner Chris Belland, contributed $10,000, accounting for more than 95% of the committee’s total receipts.
The tourism-based company which owns the Conch Train and Old Town Trolleys is one of the largest cruiseship-centric companies in the Southernmost City.
The committee’s only other contribution was $500 from Key West Planning Board member Michael Browning via his New Moon Managment. He was appointed by City Commissioner and former Key West Police Chief Donie Lee.
The filings provide the first comprehensive look at who financed the PAC’s activities after a series of text messages targeting Kaufman appeared in the closing weeks before the Aug. 18 primary election.
The text campaign focused on Kaufman’s recent traffic stop. Although Kaufman acknowledged he was driving too fast, no official speed was recorded because the investigating officer did not have his radar unit activated during the encounter.
“I should not have been going that fast, and I accept responsibility for my actions,” Kaufman said shortly after the stop.
The campaign finance reports show the committee’s fundraising came almost exclusively from Historic Tours of America, one of Key West’s largest cruise ship centric tourism businesses. Including Browning’s $500 contribution accounting for the balance, the committee’s operations were financed entirely by just two contributors.
Niles, who founded the political committee and serves as its chairperson, has been an outspoken supporter of Mayor Danise Henriquez and a longtime public supporter of her husband, Ralph Henriquez.
The anti-Kaufman text campaign quickly became a focal point of the race because it highlighted the candidate’s traffic stop while omitting that no official speed was measured during the incident. Kaufman has publicly accepted responsibility for his driving while noting that no radar reading was obtained.
As additional campaign finance reports are filed before the Aug. 18 primary, voters will gain a more complete picture of outside spending and the financial interests seeking to influence Key West’s municipal elections.