Carlos Beruff and Anthony Pedicini on State's Witness List in Kruse DUI Case

Two witnesses who appear on the list may have political ties to the defendant. One such witness, Tampa-based political operative Anthony Pedicini, a campaign consultant and owner of the political consulting firm Strategic Image Management SIMWINS made the state's list. Kruse hired Pedicini as his campaign consultant in his 2020 run for the county’s at-large seat currently represented by Kruse. Pedicini also served as campaign consultant to Commissioners Vanessa Baugh, James Satcher, and Kevin Van Ostenbridge in their bids for commission seats in the 2020 election. 

Currently, Pedicini’s firm appears on campaign financial records of three current candidates for Manatee County Commission races, Republicans Mike Rahn for District 4, Amanda Ballard for District 2, and Jason Bearden for the county’s District 6 at-large seat.