The Orlando Magic paid unofficially Doug Guetzloe, a political consultant and frequent tax critic, not less than $200,000 not to oppose plans for a recently announced new arena. This controversial information has come to light while Guetzloe is investigated by the state attorney’s office. The latter faces misdemeanor charges for allegedly violating campaign disclosure laws relating to an attack ad on a suburban candidate for mayor.

The Magic paid Doug Guetzloe, who also hosts a local radio show hailed as ‘’The Voice of the People”, at two distinct times in the past. The club gave him first $100,000 to support an identical stadium push in 2001 and another $100,000 this year. The payments were made through the Magic’s law firm, Lowndes, Drosdick, Doster, Kantor & Reed. The investigation showed that the law firm has been tied to hundreds of thousands in payments to Guetzloe for unspecified purposes. In the wake of the case, the team also announced that it is currently reevaluating its relationship with one of the firm’s lawyers.

The Magic’s payments to Guetzloe was taking place in support of a $1 billion downtown overhaul which is forecast to deliver a new arena in 2010, a renovated Citrus Bowl and new performing arts center.

Magic chief operating officer Alex Martins argued that Guetzloe was chosen because he was officially involved in many other large projects in central Florida for more than a decade. But with hindsight, the CEO admitted that the team made an error in judgment about Guetzloe.

The Magic were not the only ones paying Guetzloe. A Kissimmee resort paid him $87,000 when it pursued public money to expand a convention center. The local expressway authority has also paid him $107,500 to evaluate opposition to toll increases despite his heavy criticism of the agency.

The Magic arena is planned to cost $480 million, with the team responsible for overruns and some $200 million in costs. The Magic is scheduled to have their first game by 2010.