Higginbotham’s taxpayer-funded commercials
County Commissioner Al Higginbotham invited several citizen groups and community leaders to be videotaped with him today for what his staff called a “Christmas commercial” to be televised on the county’s TV station, HTV22. Higginbotham’s term ends next year so he needs to get his re-election campaign in gear now.
A televised campaign commercial featuring smiling citizens and community leaders with the candidate would ordinarily be very expensive, and most candidates would have a hard time organizing it even if they could afford it. In contrast, this “Christmas commercial” will be paid for by the taxpayers.
The Fishhawk Republican club sounds delighted to be included:
Subject: Commercial for Holiday to be filmed in Fishhawk, join us
Commissioner Al Higginbotham has invited the Fishhawk Republican Club to join him and be part of his Holiday Greeting which will be filmed on Monday, December 3 at 1:15 in front of the fireplace at Town Square. Commissioner Higginbotham requests that you join him for this television shoot. It is exciting that he has invited the Fishhawk Club to be part of his holiday greeting. Please join us at 1:15 at Town Square in front of the fireplace. Please email me or call and let me know you will join us. Also, forward this to any neighbors in Fishhawk.
Thank you.
DebbieDebbie Cox Roush
President, Fishhawk Republican ClubCo-Chair Hillsborough County Coalition for Women, Mitt Romney for President
Event Chair HCRP
I wonder if Higginbotham also invited the East Hillsborough Democrats to be involved in his taxpayer-funded Holiday commercial? I wonder what Louise Thompson thinks of this use of our county-funded television station and film crew? (Louise is Executive Director of TBCN, the Tampa Bay Public Access television station which Hillsborough County commissioners decided not to fund anymore, while using our their TV station for their own self-promotion.) How do you, as a taxpayer, feel about your commissioner spending your taxes to film himself wishing you a happy Holiday? In an election year?
I don’t like my taxes being used to fund a politician’s self-promotional commercial during campaign season — a commercial which will discourage other candidates from coming forward to run against the incumbent, looking so well-connected with happy civic leaders and all.
The commercials were to be filmed Monday at 1:15 in the Fishhawk Town Square, and 3:15 at the Red Barn Ranch on Thonotassassa Rd. If you had known about it, you could have dropped by and been on TV too. After all, you are paying for these campaign spots —er, I mean Christmas Commercials.
