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Commissioner's ad draws opponent's flak
By JEFFREY S. SOLOCHEK, Times Staff Writer BROOKSVILLE -- The paid political ad touts incumbent county Commissioner Nancy Robinson for "demonstrated responsible leadership." It talks about Robinson's reputation for "professionalism, openness, reason," and urges voters to re-elect her to the District 2 commission seat. To reach her, the ad states, just call her at home or at her commission office in downtown Brooksville. And that, Robinson's Republican opponent says, is a problem. "Hannah M. (Nancy) Robinson is wrongfully using county work time, equipment and supplies to assist her in her campaign for County Commissioner District 2 by advertising in her campaign solicitation to contact her in her office with the Hernando County Board of County Commissioners," hopeful Rose Rocco wrote in a complaint sent Tuesday to the Florida Elections Commission. State law prohibits candidates from using the services of any government officer or employee during work hours. County policy includes a similar ban. "I just feel that someone who is in office as long as she is should know policy," Rocco said Friday. Robinson, a Democrat seeking her third full term, acknowledged the error Tuesday in a letter to the county elections office. She wrote that her commission office number inadvertently appeared in the campaign literature, and it would not happen again. In an interview Friday, Robinson added that the number has been removed from all ads. "Human error can occur," she said. "As the candidate, I assume full responsibility." The Florida Elections Commission would not confirm whether Rocco's complaint existed. A spokeswoman cited a state law that says all such complaints are confidential for 30 days after they are found legally insufficient, or until probable cause is determined to exist. The complainant is not bound by the confidentiality, though. Rocco provided a receipt from FedEx showing the documents had been delivered Wednesday. Rocco also accused the county of discriminating against her by not allowing her to appear on government access cable Channel 19 as part of a discussion about the Operation PRIDE cleanup effort, of which she is chairwoman. The program was filmed in May, after she announced her run for office and before she qualified to appear on the ballot. "They would not allow it because of my candidacy," Rocco said Friday. "Yet when they have this thing with Karen Thurman and they're going out to tape her, where's the difference?" Thurman, a Democrat seeking re-election to the U.S. Congress, has asked the county to videotape and then air an information session about federal long-term care insurance she is sponsoring and running Monday. The all-Democrat commission twice authorized the taping. "She's going to be shown on Channel 19," Rocco said. "Isn't that promoting her?" County policy on government broadcasting states candidates who have qualified for election shall not be allowed to make "individual statements" on Channel 19, except at official government meetings or at formal candidate forums. It also states that incumbents seeking re-election will be shown "only in the performance of their official duties; that is, conducting official business at meetings or incidental appearances in other programming." Programs not related to meetings that feature candidate appearances will not be aired after qualification and prior to the election date, the policy says. Rocco contended that if she could not talk on air about a county-sponsored cleanup as chairwoman of the effort, and Thurman can appear to talk about a federal program, the county has employed a double standard. "I know that Rose has really taken exception to this and she feels it is not fair because it gives current incumbents the edge," said community relations coordinator Brenda Frazier, who oversees government broadcasting and made the filming decisions. But Frazier said she believed the policy was implemented correctly. Rocco would have been featured in a program about the cleanup, she said, while Thurman would appear as part of an official government function that has benefit for all county residents. "Maybe we need to tighten the wording in the policy," she said, agreeing that terms such as "meeting" and "individual statements" might not be clear. "But I feel very confident in filming the focus (on Operation PRIDE without Rocco) . . . and I also feel filming the Karen Thurman event is not a violation of the policy." Commissioners said they did not think about the policy when agreeing to tape the Thurman forum. "I thought about the benefit of our residents getting the information," Commissioner Betty Whitehouse said. Even so, Robinson said, the county cannot even appear to use the policy unevenly. "There should always be equity in policy application," she said. "I will certainly have that reviewed." -- Jeffrey S. Solochek covers Hernando County government and can be reached at 754-6115. Send e-mail to solochek@sptimes.com.
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