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El Nuevo Herald/Miami HeraldPosted on Thursday, 07.28.11
Miami Mayor Regalado might have received illegal campaign contributions
.BY MELISSA SANCHEZ
msanchez@ElNuevoHerald.com
Campaign documents show that Miami Mayor Tomás Regalado received at least $8,000 from individuals and corporations in the Dominican Republican during the 2009 election campaign, something that Florida election officials say is illegal in Florida.
“Contributions to candidates from individuals and corporations abroad are prohibited under state and federal laws,” said Chris Cate, spokesman of the Florida Division of Elections in Tallahassee. “It is not permitted to contribute, donate or use these funds in federal, state or local campaigns.”
Cate added that candidates are responsible to make sure that all contributions to their campaigns comply with election laws.
The 16 contributions of $500 each were delivered by William Bermello, a Miami architect, from July to September in 2009, Regalado told El Nuevo Herald. The checks were issued by Dominican contractors linked to Mobiliaria Arena Gorda. Bermello is a partner at Bermello Ajamil & Partners, a Miami enterprise involved in the luxurious Los Altos project in the tourist zone of Casa de Campo, whose contractor is Mobiliaria Arena Gorda.
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