Greenlight Pinellas ad appeals to (or makes fun of) elderly men

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The Greenlight Pinellas campaign is ramping up efforts to earn support for a referendum on the November ballot this year.

Playing on familiar stereotypes, the 30-second spot shows three retirement-aged men sitting down for breakfast in a diner. One man, Leroy, angrily proclaims, “I’m not voting for a tax increase!”

Another man then chimes in telling them to calm down and explains the one-penny sales tax increase will lower their property taxes.

That’s because if voters approve the referendum, it would replace the portion of sales tax currently funding transit in the county.

The pro-Greenlight character also points out that Leroy can hit up a Rays game on a train and the other guy, Jerry, can catch more buses to the pharmacy to pick up his prescriptions.

And just in case poking fun at elderly men wasn’t amusing enough, the ad ends with Leroy and Jerry asking how their friend knows all of this. The answer of course, “I’m following them on the Twitter.”

Not Twitter. The Twitter.

Leroy and Jerry then share exasperated eye rolls.

Watch the ad:

Janelle Irwin has been a professional journalist covering local news and politics in the Tampa Bay area since 2003. She also hosts a weekly political talk show on WMNF Community radio. Janelle formerly served as the sole staff reporter for WMNF News and previously covered news for Patch.com and various local neighborhood newsletters. Her work has been featured in the New York Daily News, Free Speech Radio News and Florida Public Radio and she's been interviewed by radio stations across the nation for her coverage of the 2012 Republican National Convention. Janelle is a diehard news junkie who isn't afraid to take on big names in local politics including Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, the dirty business of trash and recycling in St. Pete and the ongoing Pier debacle. Her work as a reporter and radio host has earned her two WMNF awards including News Volunteer of the Year and Public Affairs Volunteer of the Year. Janelle is also the devoted mother to three brilliant and beautiful daughters who are a constant source of inspiration and occasional blogging fodder. To contact, email janelle@floridapolitics.com.