Hillsborough County Commission candidate Margaret Iuculano’s very expensive stamps
Just received a fundraising email from Hillsborough County Commission candidate Margaret Iuculano. Fortunately, this letter was no as horrible as her last solicitation, but it does again demonstrate just how much Iuculano is out of her depth.
Explaining why she needs to raise $1,500 a week for her campaign, Iuculano writes:
“Between now and December 31, I need to raise $1,500 each week to help pay for the exorbitantly priced television ads needed to compete in this race. Due to the presidential election, everything this cycle will cost two to three times more than a traditional market would charge. That’s everything from television ad buys, to mailers, to radio time. “
See, that’s just not true.
Television advertising may be ‘exorbitant’ relative to, say, advertising on the side of bus. But television advertising for a candidate will not cost “two or three times more than a traditional market would charge.”
Read Title 47 Code of Federal Regulations as it pertains to candidate rates, especially Section 73.1942, which states:
“During the 45 days preceding the date of a primary or primary runoff election and during the 60 days preceding the date of a general or special election in which such person is a candidate, the lowest unit charge of the station for the same class and amount of time for the same period.”
In other words, not a rate “two or three times more” than normal, but actually the lowest rate possible.
As for the cost of campaign mailers, all I can say after producing direct mail for the last fourteen years is that the cost of postage has nothing to do with whether there’s a presidential election.
Obviously, this latest email is not as atrocious as Iuculano’s previous homophobic missive, but this letter does demonstrate that she is just not ready for prime time.
I have listened to Margaret Iuculano and find her refreshing and certainly someone we need. Not sure about this writer, had they done some research, they’d realize they are way off base.
Go listen to Margaret Iuculano. If her message doesn’t resonate, then vote for the status quo.