Alex Diaz de la Portilla gets $125K from controversial donor

State House hopeful Alex Diaz de la Portilla has no qualms about accepting $125,000 from a controversial donor.

The considerable contribution to Diaz de la Portilla's political committee, Citizens for Accountable Government, came from Miami Beach physician Allan Jacob.

Donations from Jacob have drawn scrutiny before.

Two years ago, Jacob gave $15,000 to a political committee run by Diaz de la Portilla's older brother, Miguel.

Days later, Alex Diaz de la Portilla, then Senate majority leader, penned a letter that helped Jacob's kidney dialysis company in its bid to keep a state contract.

Both Jacob and Diaz de la Portilla denied any connection between the contribution and the letter. Jacob said he supported the political committee's principles. And Diaz de la Portilla said his letter was meant to stop the state from spending $2.5 million on a new dialysis treatment center -- not to benefit any contractor.

Diaz de la Portilla, a Republican who is running to represent Shenandoah, Brickell, Coconut Grove, Key Biscayne and parts of Coral Gables, said there's nothing wrong with the latest contribution, either.

"It's not an issue," Diaz de la Portilla said of the check, which he reported in August. "Has Alex Diaz de la Portilla ever voted for anything related to Allan Jacob? The answer is no."

It wasn't clear if Jacob was still doing business with the state. He did not return calls Thursday.

Diaz de la Portilla said he had only met Jacob twice and the men have neither personal nor business ties.

"He called me to help me because he liked my ideas," Diaz de la Portilla said. "I've done a lot for Mount Sinai and Miami Jewish Home. He liked that."

But Diaz de la Portilla said he wants to get to know the doctor better. He plans to ask Jacob for another $100,000, he said.

"Hopefully, he's going to become a friend," Diaz de la Portilla said.

Both Jacob and Diaz de la Portilla denied any connection between the contribution and the letter. Jacob said he supported the political committee's principles. And Diaz de la Portilla said his letter was meant to stop the state from spending $2.5 million on a new dialysis treatment center -- not to benefit any contractor.

Diaz de la Portilla, a Republican who is running to represent Shenandoah, Brickell, Coconut Grove, Key Biscayne and parts of Coral Gables, said there's nothing wrong with the latest contribution, either.

"It's not an issue," Diaz de la Portilla said of the check, which he reported in August. "Has Alex Diaz de la Portilla ever voted for anything related to Allan Jacob? The answer is no."

It wasn't clear if Jacob was still doing business with the state. He did not return calls Thursday.

Diaz de la Portilla said he had only met Jacob twice and the men have neither personal nor business ties.

"He called me to help me because he liked my ideas," Diaz de la Portilla said. "I've done a lot for Mount Sinai and Miami Jewish Home. He liked that."

But Diaz de la Portilla said he wants to get to know the doctor better. He plans to ask Jacob for another $100,000, he said.

"Hopefully, he's going to become a friend," Diaz de la Portilla said.