Book also contacted the opera for tickets for politicians.

Rep. Susan Guber got free tickets in 1987. She said she thought she had asked the opera for the tickets directly, but a memo states that Book got them for her. "I think it's in our best interest to see those shows, " she said of state-funded performances. "How do we know if it's lousy" -- and not a good use of state money, she said.

Book said that "probably less than 10" legislators have asked him for opera tickets.

The opera drafted an advocacy plan for 1988: Send Christmas cards and gifts to members of the Dade and Broward legislative delegations; host a party on a board member's yacht to say thank you.

The party never came off. But the lobbying was a big success.

In 1988, the Legislature awarded the opera $950,000. Some of the money was for a program to broadcast the opera on national public television and radio. The large appropriations have continued.

Hebrock withdrew in 1989. Book and Hamersmith expanded their roles beyond lobbying. Now, they also give advice to the opera and guide them with special projects.

"We find them quite wonderful to work with, " Conner said.

Book and Rep. Mike Abrams, D-North Miami Beach, hosted a fund-raising event for former Rep. Sam Bell that June.

"Sam, as you know, is Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee and in that capacity has been a major advocate of the Miami Opera, " Book wrote to Heuer about the event. "We would like to request that you undertake to raise $3,500 for this event."

Nonprofit organizations cannot contribute to political campaigns. The money comes instead from members of the board and supporters. Opera members raised some money for Bell but didn't make the $3,500 goal.

"There are no quid pro quos in the process, nor have I ever had one suggested to me, " Book said.

"I think there's a mistaken perception that exists out there that you've got to do something to get something. That's not the way the system works. There are opportunities to be helpful to legislators. The way you can be most helpful is when they're running for re-election. You ask people to help support them."

For instance, Book also asked opera members to raise $5,000 for Sen. Gwen Margolis, then-chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

"Gwen Margolis is a good friend, " Conner said. "We handed her an envelope full of checks."

It wasn't the only time Book wrote the opera on behalf of Margolis, now the Senate president.

In August, Book asked the opera to rely on their friends at the ballet to get eight Nutcracker tickets for Margolis' office.

"If necessary, out of my costs related to the representation, I am prepared to pay for these tickets, " Book wrote. He said in an interview that the tickets were for the office staff, who offered to pay for them.