If you believe the most current polling, it may no longer be necessary for Kathleen Ford’s numerous enemies to attempt to define her as “unfit to lead” St. Petersburg. After once leading the mayoral race, Ford has fallen to third place, behind incumbent Bill Foster and former state Representative Rick Kriseman.
However, the forces behind the Council for Stronger Neighborhoods, an electioneering communications organization out of Orlando, are not taking any chances and have sent a strongly-worded attack mailer to thousands of voters in St. Petersburg. What the mailer lacks in subtlety, it makes up for in effectiveness.
Drawing on an August 6 column in the Tampa Bay Times, the mailer accuses Ford of “making a mockery of yet another election” and repeats columnist John Romano’s criticism that Ford is “petty and vindictive.”
And that’s only the introductory front side.
The reverse side essentially throws the kitchen sink at Ford, blaming her for “desperate attacks from a failed politician.” The mailer hits Ford for “once claiming she couldn’t afford an election fee, even though her campaign raised over $19,000.”
The mailer then goes on to cite a 2009 St. Petersburg Times article in which Ford was criticized for “intentionally spreading misinformation.” From there, it’s just a rat-a-tat-tat of shots at Ford, from missing candidate forums to “unfriending” on Facebook a debate organizer (that would be you, David Schauer) who was critical of Ford.
Here’s the front of the mailer:
Here’s the back:
