Gov. DeSantis appoints Alan Suskey, Cody Vanlandingham to Florida Athletic Commission

Gov. Ron DeSantis has named two new members to the Florida Athletic Commission, which oversees and licenses the state’s combat sports activities, like boxing, mixed martial arts and kickboxing.

Both — Alan Suskey and Cody Vanlandingham — gave thousands to his federal political action committee, Restore Our Nation (RON) PAC, Federal Election Commission records show.

Suskey is a lobbyist and U.S. Army veteran who works as Executive Vice President of Shumaker Advisors, a government advocacy firm with multiple locations across Florida, five other states and Washington, D.C.

He is a current Board member of Florida is for Veterans and has served on the Boards of the St. Petersburg Pier Aquarium, St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce, CareerSource Pinellas and Veterans Florida, among other involvements.

Suskey, who earned a degree in political science from American Military University, has made about $51,000 worth of federal-level contributions, including $3,300 to RON PAC one day after DeSantis launched his unsuccessful bid for President in 2023.

Suskey gave $7,000 to U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody, $8,000 to U.S. Rep. Laurel Lee, $2,000 to U.S. Rep. Aaron Bean and about $3,500 to former U.S. Rep. David Jolly, a prominent Democratic candidate for Governor, when Jolly was still a Republican.

Since 2009, Suskey has also donated more than $89,000 to state-level political candidates, the overwhelming share of whom were Republican. His largest single donation was a $23,000 check to Senate President Ben Albritton’s political committee in 2023. He also gave $1,250 to former House Speaker Chris Sprowls, $2,250 to former Speaker Paul Renner and $116 to DeSantis’ now-closed political committee, Empower Parents, whose Chair, CFO Blaise Ingoglia, also received $1,000 from Suskey.

Suskey is heavily involved in The Process, also donating to Democratic lawmakers including state Sens. Tina Scott Polsky, Darryl Rouson and Jason Pizzo — who has since become an independent — and former state Reps. Ramon Alexander and Rick Kriseman.

Vanlandingham, a doctor with the Tallahassee Medical Group, gave $9,900 to RON PAC within a week of DeSantis’ presidential announcement.

Florida records show no state-level campaign donation activity by Vanlandingham, who doesn’t appear to be registered to vote.

Vanlandingham’s community involvements are many, according to the Governor’s Office, which noted his membership to the Florida Academy of Family Physicians, Capital Medical Society and College of Medicine Selection Committee at Florida State University, where he earned his medical degree.

Suskey and Vanlandingham’s appointments, made late last week, are subject to Senate confirmation.