Democrats Demand Documents From McCollum About Ads Promoting Himself Rather Than Public Safety

NEWS FROM THE FLORIDA DEMOCRATIC PARTY

For Immediate Release: March 11, 2009

Democrats Demand Documents From McCollum About Ads Promoting Himself Rather Than Public Safety

Tallahassee, FL - Today, the Florida Democratic Party filed a public records request with Attorney General Bill McCollum demanding that he turn over all documents related to the taxpayer-funded ads, which do more to promote McCollum's political career than the public safety of Floridians.

"The Attorney General has a solemn duty to protect Florida's children from predators. Unfortunately, Republican Attorney General Bill McCollum chose instead to promote his political career rather than protect Florida's children when he decided to run nearly $2 million in TV ads promoting himself instead of public safety. Following the leadership of State Senator Dave Aronberg, who first questioned McCollum's wasting of tax dollars and abuse of the public's trust, the Florida Democratic Party today is demanding that McCollum turn over all documents related to the production and financing of the ads by McCollum's long-time political consultant who was awarded the no-bid contract," said Eric Jotkoff, Florida Democratic Party spokesman.

"During this severe economic crisis, Florida's taxpayers are speechless at Bill McCollum's incredible lack of judgment, which is why Florida Democrats are determined to hold McCollum and his Republican Party accountable for their waste, fraud, and abuse of tax-payer's hard earned dollars."

Text of the Florida Democratic Party's Public Records Request:

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

The Honorable Bill McCollum
Office of Attorney General
State of Florida
The Capitol PL-01
Tallahassee, FL 32399

Dear Attorney General McCollum:

In light of recent revelations in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel and the Miami Herald concerning the spending of public money to air ads across Florida and pursuant to Florida Statute 119.011, I am requesting the following information and records from the Office of the Attorney General:

• Any and all internal communications regarding the production of the "Cyber" television ad, within the Office of the Attorney General and its respective staff, including but not limited to email, letters, files, documents and drafts of ads.
• Any and all communications between the Office of the Attorney General and its respective staff, Chris Mottola, Chris Mottola Consulting, Inc. and its respective staff, including but not limited to email, letters, files, documents and drafts of ads.
• Any and all internal communications regarding deliberations within the Office of the Attorney General and its respective staff about using an ad firm based in Philadelphia, PA rather than utilizing a Florida based company and its impact on the creation of Florida jobs in these hard economic times, including but not limited to email, letters, files, and documents.
• Any and all internal communications regarding deliberations within the Office of the Attorney General about using a no-bid contracting process in the creation of this ad campaign, including but not limited to email, letters, files, and documents.
• Any and all communications within the Office of the Attorney General regarding the political implications of using public money for this ad campaign, including but not limited to email, letters, files, and documents.
• Any and all communications within the Office of the Attorney General regarding the targeting, placement, and purchasing of the ads, including but not limited to email, letters, files, and documents.

This request includes copies of every document related to the matter from January 2007 and March of 2009 in digital format. Please contact me at 850-222-3411 if you have any problems meeting this request by 12 PM on Wednesday, March 18 2009. If you refuse to provide this information, Chapter 119 requires you to advise me in writing and indicate the applicable exemption to the Public Records Act. If the exemption you are claiming only applies to a portion of the records, please delete or redact that information.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

 

Eric Jotkoff
Florida Democratic Party Communications Director