Editor's Note Updated with further comment from Julio Gonzalez 

A federal election complaint alleges Republican Julio Gonzalez is illegally financing his run for Congress with a loan from his father-in-law. But Gonzalez said the loan, listed on his financial disclosures, has nothing to do with the campaign.

Linda DeLozier Ivell, a Lakeland real estate agent and longtime conservative activist, sent a complaint to the Federal Election Commission highlighting a change in the financial disclosure noting Gonzalez’s financial liabilities as of June 1. On the form, Gonzalez lists a $317,033 loan from Dr. Winston Arabitg, his father-in-law. “Other than this apparent loan from Dr. Arabitg, Gonzalez does’t list any item on his financial disclosure that indicates he has access to large sums of cash,” she alleges. Yet, Gonzalez contributed a $150,000 loan to his campaign in the second quarter.

Gonzalez said the family loan relates to his private medical practice in Venice, not his campaign. As for assertions he’s using the money to run? “It’s not true,” Gonzalez says, “and that’s shameful.”

Gonzalez, now a state representative, is running for Congress in District 17. He’s in a Republican primary against state Sen. Greg Steube and Charlotte County activist Bill Akins. 

The accusation, Gonzalez says, “is yet another act of desperation on behalf of the Steube campaign and those who follow him.” Representatives of the Steube campaign declined to comment. 

Ivell, though, said she follows races statewide. “I watch a lot of campaigns,” she said. Her letter to the FEC looks at Gonzalez’s federal disclosure this tear and his state disclosures from 2017. “While I do know know the date that Gonzalez received this loan from Arabitg, I can report that he did not list the loan as a liability on his 2017 Form 6 Full and Public Disclosure of Financial Interests,” she wrote.

Candidates may loan personal funds to their campaign, and there’s no cap on amount. But FEC rules say gifts or loans to candidate for the purpose of the campaign cannot be considered personal funds. Rather, such loans would be subject to the $2,700 limit on campaign donations by individuals.

“It seems clear that the $150,000 loan to the [Gonzalez] Campaign came from these Arabitg funds,” Ivell wrote.

Gonzalez says the loan from his father-in-law would not appear on the 2017 disclosure because that covers assets and liabilities from 2016. The loan came in 2017 and therefore only showed up on his disclosure this year.

Gonzalez also reported several loans from Regions Bank, he listed Regions liabilities on his disclosure last year as well. He also listed a Stonegate Bank loan on his previous disclosure that is not on his new forms. Gonzalez says the Regions loans were used to finance his campaign for Congress. He said the loan from his father-in-law predates his candidacy for Congress. He did not provide documentation of when he took the loan from Arabitg. 

PIctured: State Rep. Julio Gonzalez, R-Venice.

Put on your favorite pair of bell-bottoms and round rose-colored sunglasses, and take a trip down the Trail to the funky new pizza joint, appropriately dubbed Mellow Mushroom. With its imaginative and prismatic murals adorning the walls, all surrounding the colorful and retro interior, you are instantly transported back to the psychedelic flower power of the 1960s.

Dining choices are not limited solely to the “out of this world pizza;” the menu offers plentiful options, from salads, calzones and hoagies, to “munchies” like soft pretzels, Magic Mushroom Soup and oven-roasted chicken wings. The Holy Shiitake specialty pizza pie takes a mouth-watering spin on the traditional white pizza—shiitake, button and portobello mushrooms, caramelized onions, and mozzarella and MontAmore cheeses sit along an olive oil and garlic base, all dressed to the nines with black truffle oil, fresh chives, shaved parmesan and a perfect swirl of garlic aioli. Patrons can opt to customize their own pies as well, choosing from more than 30 toppings and 10 different cheeses. Different types of crust, such as thin crust and gluten-free crust, are available upon request. Pair your savory pie with a libation from Mellow Mushroom’s bountiful selection of spirits, like wine, brews and cocktails. If you spare some room for dessert, choose from a variety of giant gourmet cookies, or Mary Jane’s Triple Chocolate Brownie: a buttery, chewy brownie topped with chocolate chunks. Whether choosing to stop in for a bite to eat or a beer to sip on, chill out and “get baked” at Mellow Mushroom–your new and totally radical neighborhood hangout.  

Pictured: The Holy Shiitake specialty pizza pie

Mellow Mushroom, 6727 South Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, 941-388-7504.

The Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County has announced the programming for the 6th Sarasota Culture Collective Season. Sarasota Culture Collective is a member program that provides young adults (ages 21-39) the chance to experience a variety of Sarasota’s world-class arts and cultural organizations. Members receive tickets to seven scheduled performances plus exclusive access to behind the scenes tours, conversations with the performers, rehearsals, introductions to local arts leadership and arts discounts. In addition to exploring Sarasota arts through performances and events, members of the Culture Collective form their own arts community and are introduced to opportunities to become further involved in local arts. The season features an Orchid Show Tour at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in November, and performances from Sarasota Orchestra, Sarasota Opera, Sarasota Ballet, Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe and more. Single Memberships are $125 and Dual Memberships are $240. 

2018/19 Sarasota Culture Collective Season

Sarasota-based AltMed Enterprises, through its affiliate AltMed Florida, has announced its flagship MÜV Medical Cannabis Dispensary is scheduled to open Friday, August 10, 2018 at 10am at 5045 Fruitville Road in the Cobia Bay Plaza, contingent on receiving approval from the Florida Department of Health’s Office of Medical Marijuana Use. The dispensary will be the second of the 25 planned MÜV Dispensaries throughout the state of Florida. MÜV Products offer an extensive variety of delivery methods, including several that are singular in Florida, led by its patent-pending 72-hour transdermal patches, transdermal gels and metered dose inhalers. Products will come high in CBD or THC as well as CBD/THC balanced formulations.  Product categories include topicals, transdermal patches, metered dose inhalers, distillate vaporizer pens (without any cutting agents), all-natural terpene enriched vaporizer pens, oral sprays, tinctures and concentrates. MÜV Products will be sold exclusively in Florida at ‘MÜV by AltMed’ dispensaries because Florida does not allow wholesale of product between license holders—only products that license holders produce themselves can be sold in their dispensaries. The publilc is invited to attend the opening, where staff and representatives will be on hand to answer questions. 

MUV Medical Cannabis - AltMed Florida

A 30th anniversary renovation of Fashion Focus Hair Academy to revolutionize and bring a new one-of-a-kind teaching experience to Sarasota reached a new level of recognition recently when Salon Today and North American Hairstyling Awards (NAHA), the industry’s equivalent to the Oscars, selected the Academy as one of their 2018 Salons of the Year. Originally founded by brothers Bryon and Richard Weintraub, Fashion Focus Academy is now currently co-owned by Bryon’s son Aaron and Richard, who is also a partner in Yellow Strawberry Hair Salons.  For the 30th Anniversary renovation, the partners entered a relationship with Sarasota-based salon designer Leon Alexander of Eurisko. The resulting salon re-do caught the attention of Salon Today and NAHA judges. Noted design highlights included the Academy’s backlit LED lighting and a barbershop accentuated with dark wood cabinets, which helped Fashion Focus Academy earn a top spot on Salon Today’s 2018 Salons of Distinctions list. 

Fashion Focus Hair Academy

As we rapidly approach the beginning of the 2018-2019 school year, I want to take a moment and reflect on all of the successes of this past year. Our 15th consecutive “A” grade, the 4-percentage point increase from 2016-17 to 2017-18, the renewal of the referendum—none of these milestones would have been possible without the effort and valuable support of our district’s teachers. I had the pleasure of addressing our administrative, operational and instructional leaders recently at our Summer Leadership Institute. The energy and passion in the room was contagious, and it was clear to me that our district, without a doubt, has the most committed educators championing for educational excellence. Our community’s students are at the heart of what we do, and they are the driving force for our policies.

That is why I have written to the School Board, requesting that they delay any discussions concerning my employment contract until after the start of school and after the board elections have concluded. The primary focus of time and energy should be on our students and teachers. Though there are a myriad of diverse opinions and methodologies among the current School Board members, I have confidence in their operational prowess and ability to rise above any divisive distractions. We are all equally focused on positively elevating our district and its students to their highest collective potential. Great work has already been done, but there are more opportunities on the horizon to further close, and hopefully eventually eradicate, the achievement gap among our diverse and unique student population. I look forward to collaborating with our School Board to increasingly meet and exceed the needs of our students and their families.

I am committed to the academic, civic and emotional growth of our students. The strategies we’ve employed since I assumed the job of superintendent are working and it’s exciting to see our students thrive. I am thankful to the supportive community of Sarasota for valuing our students and standing alongside district educators to ensure continued opportunities for all. I am honored to serve as the Superintendent of Sarasota County Schools.

Dr. Todd Bowden in superintendent of schools for Sarasota County.