Less than a week before the election in Volusia County, residents received a controversial mailer targeting Jeff Brower, a candidate for the Volusia County Council chair. The mailer, which questioned Brower’s stance on protecting children from predators, was technically accurate but misleading due to its lack of context about his voting rationale.
The mailer’s claim was based on Brower’s decision to vote against a measure that would increase restrictions on where sexual predators can live in relation to schools and other areas frequented by children. Brower and District 1 Councilman Don Dempsey opposed this measure citing potential unintended consequences, such as increased homelessness among offenders, which could complicate law enforcement tracking efforts. The argument here is not new and raises the question of whether maintaining known addresses for offenders is more effective than pushing them to live off-grid.
This mailer did not appear to be linked directly to Randy Dye, Brower’s opponent, but was instead the product of a ‘dark money’ group. These groups have the ability to fund attack ads anonymously. The mailer was attributed to ‘Voter Response,’ a Tallahassee-based electioneering communications organization chaired by David Ramba. Ramba, a lobbyist, is associated with several such groups that channel substantial sums into anonymous political advertising.
Between October 17 and October 28, Voter Response allegedly spent $154,350 on multiple mailer campaigns, including the one against Brower. Art and Copy Partners LLC of Suwanee, Georgia, was identified as the company producing these mailers. These expenditures are publicly disclosed, but they do not specify the targeted candidate, adding to the opacity of funding sources.
Tracing the source of funds for Voter Response reveals a complex web typical of political financing, involving various interlinked entities. The Committee for Justice, Transportation and Business, another dark money group, was one such contributor, providing $155,000 to Voter Response over the course of these mail campaigns. Yet, the origins of these funds remain cloaked in further anonymity, exemplifying the challenges in tracing political advertising funds.
Ultimately, such ambiguous funding raises ethical concerns about transparency in political campaigns. Without clear disclosure, voters are left in the dark about who truly sponsors such attack ads, increasing calls for regulatory actions in Florida to address these loopholes.
The controversy surrounding the mailer against Jeff Brower underscores a broader issue of transparency in campaign finance. Without stringent disclosure requirements, dark money groups can significantly influence elections without accountability. As the debate continues, there is a growing demand for reforms to ensure that the electorate is adequately informed about the forces shaping their political landscape.
Source: News-journalonline
