When something fishy is going on, wise old editors ask reporters, "Who benefits?"
And that’s the question we’re asking following the blitz of misleading and negative campaign ads attacking Sarasota City Commission candidate Terry Turner. "Citizens for a Better Sarasota" has spent more than $22,000 on mailers, radio ads and "robo-calls" to voters, every one of them an attack on Turner.
Technically CBS is not a political action committee, because PACs actually must support something. This is an "electioneering communication organization," and it exists only to attack. It is the same organization that spent $87,000 attacking the candidacy of Sarasota County Commissioner Joe Barbetta two years ago – and $10,000 earlier this year to promote – with more misleading ads – the failed "elected mayor" referendum.
The roll call of "citizens" so concerned about a "better Sarasota" includes a bevy of land developers, bankers, construction company executives and lawyers. Lots of lawyers. But you won’t find the list on the supervisor of elections’ website. "No reports found," it says under "Campaign Finance Reports."
Another old saying: "You know a man by his enemies." Barbetta and Turner share a trait – they both served on the Sarasota County Planning Commission before running for election. And neither was a lapdog of the development community. Now it’s payback time.
So who benefits from these lies? Unfortunately it is Turner’s opponents. While they are not directly linked to the "lying liars," neither has taken the opportunity to distance himself or herself or repudiate the dirty campaign tricksters.
On April 14, city voters can chose two candidates from a field of three finalists to be their next at-large city commissioners. Never before has the Pelican Press suggested you vote for only one and throw your other vote away. But by not challenging the legitimacy of these underhanded and misleading tactics, Paul Caragiulo and Suzanne Atwell fail our integrity test.
By selecting only Turner, you can send a powerful message to the "lying liars" that their dirty tricks backfired. There is no requirement for you to cast both your votes. And any candidate who does not loudly and forcefully stand up against such underhanded activities doesn’t deserve your vote anyway.
When there were nine candidates in the race, we said Turner stood head and shoulders above the rest. In these economically perilous times, his background as an economics professor, banker and finance whiz brings desperately needed oversight for our tax dollars. His service on the Nature Conservancy and the Sarasota Committee for Economic Development demonstrate that one man can be sensitive to different voices. He was the top vote-getter in the March 10 election across most of the city’s neighborhoods because he is neighborhood-friendly.
Vote your conscience by selecting a single candidate in the at-large runoff for Sarasota City commissioner: Terry Turner. Send a message to the bullies.
April 1st 2009 - 2:55PM