Even politicians who don’t represent Southwest Florida make it a point to swing by Sarasota to mingle with some of the big-time donors in the region. What sort of money flows from the Suncoast into political coffers? We took a look at the donations, as reported to the Federal Elections Commission over the past 15 years, from some of the region’s power players.  

ILLUSTRATIONS BY WOODY WOODMAN

CAREN LOBO
Democratic Party: $5,000
Candidates: $29,900
PACs: $26,800

CHARLES GITHLER
Republican Party: $65,500
Candidates: $59,850
PACs: $37,000

BOB WAECHTER
Republican Party: $10,250 
Candidates: $26,750
PACs: $5,500 

DAVID GRAIN
Democratic Party: $64,900
Candidates: $109,250
PACs: $64,900

PAT NEAL
Republican Party: $43,650
Candidates: $32,850
PACs: $10,000

GARY KOMPOTHECRAS
Democratic Party: $20,500
Candidates: $87,200
PACs: $8,500

JESSE BITER
Republican Party: $10,350
Candidates: $35,350
PACs: $38,120