A few local, well-known Republicans are among the 60-plus individuals who were recently served with subpoenas as part of a lawsuit that initially was filed back in 2012 and challenges whether or not the Sunshine State’s state Senate maps are constitutional.
Political Fix Florida recently reported that these subpoenas were sent out in early April to some current state lawmakers, such as Senate President Andy Gardiner, an Orlando Republican, and state Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, among others.
This lawsuit has been dormant for some time while another lawsuit focused on Florida’s congressional lines moved forward, ultimately resulting in requiring that the congressional districts be redrawn although an appeal to the Florida Supreme Court is pending, Political Fix Florida reported.
Local Republicans Pat Bainter, Alex Patton, Stafford Jones and Remzey Samarrai received subpoenas as part of this lawsuit over state Senate lines, according to court documents.
Jones owns War Room Logistics, a local political polling firm, and is the chairman of the Alachua County Republican Executive Committee, while Bainter is the owner of Data Targeting Inc., a political consulting firm based here in Gainesville.
Jones told The Sun that whenever any branch or level of government asks for public comment, then the U.S. Constitution says he is allowed to give comment — no matter what the League of Women Voters of Florida or Common Cause (two of the plaintiffs in this lawsuit) think about that.
Patton owns Ozean Media, a locally based political consulting and media firm, and previously founded War Room Logistics with Jones. Samarrai is a former mayor of Micanopy and former U.S. State Department employee.
Check out Political Fix Florida’s story for more details and to check out related court documents.