A construction company/developer gave a $10,000 contribution to a political committee operated by Broward School Board Member Allen Zeman, State campaign records show. On November 1, 2023, The Corradino Group made the large contribution to the newly-formed Keep Students First Florida political committee. State records show Zeman is the chairman of Keep Students First Florida.
Records show Zeman opened the political committee on October 2, 2023 even though he does not face re-election until November 2026.
This is not Allen Zeman’s first foray into the world of political action committees (PAC).
In July 2022, REDBROWARD exposed Zeman’s ties to the Keep Students First political committee.
KEEP STUDENTS FIRST?
Records showed that PAC was funded by the Washington D.C. company founded by Allen Zeman. While running in 2022, Zeman preached his platform of “transparency and ethical standards” to concerned parents and newspaper editors.
On April 5, 2022, Allen Zeman announced his candidacy for the At-large District 8 Broward School Board seat. His official campaign paperwork listed his Fort Lauderdale home as his campaign address. These official documents listed Yolanda Brown of Brown Financial Consultants as Zeman’s campaign treasurer.
According to State elections records, Yolanda Brown created the Keep Students First political committee on May 27, 2022. Brown is listed as the chairperson and treasurer of Keep Students First. The address for the committee is the same Fort Lauderdale address as Yolanda Brown’s Fort Lauderdale financial business.
Allen Zeman is the CEO and founder of The Center For Human Capital Innovation. Based in Alexandria, Virginia, the company performs contract work for numerous Federal government agencies. Zeman is currently listed as the CEO on the company website.
On May 31, 2022, the Center For Human Capital Innovation gave $35,000 to the four day old Keep Students First political committee. On October 4, 2022, the company gave another $80,000 to the PAC.
On October 21, 2022, Allen Zeman made a $20,000 “loan” to Keep Students First.
Keep Students First was disbanded on April 27, 2023.
In 2022, we asked Allen Zeman many questions about the formation and contributions to Keep Students First. Zeman did not answer those questions. Instead, Zeman sent us a generic statement.
“I am aware of Keep Students First. It was formed to elect a Broward County school board that is fully focused on students, which is needed now more than ever,” Zeman said. “And I have supported their efforts in accordance with Florida elections law.”
REDBROWARD asked Zeman similar questions about the new Keep Students First Florida PAC.
We asked Allen Zeman:
Why did you close down Keep Students First only to open Keep Students First Florida four months later?
Why did you need to open a committee in 2023 when your re-election is so far off?
Why did the Corradino Group give your committee $10,000?
Did you solicit funds from them or anyone other company and/or lobbyist?
Will you accept contributions from other developers and companies with business before the Broward School Board?
Zeman has not responded to our request for comment.
Last week, Zeman rebuffed attempts by another School Board Member to tighten rules surrounding contact with lobbyists and prohibiting members from accepting gifts.
Also, Zeman has been a vocal proponent of closing schools across Broward.
Some want to sell closed schools and unused school property to private companies. Would The Corradino Group be interested in developing any closed school sites?
Broward parents, teachers and students deserve answers.
