Letters to the Editors

Let voters decide on ad fairness

Re: Fairness? That depends on whose ox is getting gored, Sept. 15 C.T Bowen column

Editor: C.T. Bowen is calling for a Fair Campaign Practice Board because, he says, there were unfair political advertisements. Let's examine Bowen's notion of fairness.

He complains that "aggressive politicking" and "partisan networking" might become the norm in judicial races. What's wrong with working hard to get a candidate elected? He calls Renke's ad negative because it copied the opponent's ad from the yellow pages. How is this negative? Voters want to know what candidates do for a living.

He complains about targeting Republicans but fails to mention a lot of Democrats also voted for Renke. He calls my husband, Bill Bunting's, stance on the board hypocritical because Bunting wanted Republican candidates to sign a fair campaign pledge but fails to mention what was going on there was distribution of false information.

There's a difference between smearing with lies and telling the truth even when the truth is damaging. Furthermore, there is a difference between asking candidates to agree to be honest in their advertisements and setting up an outside board to impose their notion of fairness.

Renke didn't win on that ad anyway. Renke won because he was the best candidate. He will make an extraordinary judge. He is diligent, responsible, hard working, ethical and fair. Above all, he is a humble person, which, in my view, is a necessary quality for a judge. I fear arrogance coupled with power anywhere in politics and especially in a judge's robe. We'll never have to worry about that with John Renke.

Don't worry, politics in Pasco will be just fine. We don't need some arbitrary board set up to decide what is fair. We already have the best Fair Campaign Practice Board possible. The voters!
-- Ann Bunting, Hudson

What was Bill Bunting bragging about?

Re: Voters show American pride, Sept. 13 letter.

Editor: Letter writer Bill Bunting brags how his efforts won victory for Wayne Cobb and Linda Allen. However, he failed to mention two candidates who were showered with his attention, John Renke and Robert "Bo" Michael, lost in Pasco. Renke lost Pasco by a slim margin, but won the aggregate vote from Pinellas. Michael is a member of the National Rifle Association whom Bunting featured several times at his Second Amendment license plate booth at the Lakeland Gun Show.

We can only assume Michael was as happy with the unlicensed sales taking place at these shows as was Bill Bunting.

As usual, we were given a good serving of the Bill of Rights and the Constitution according to Bunting and the NRA, i.e. that all rights are gun based.
-- Arthur C. Hayhoe, executive director, Floridians For Gun Safety Inc.

The people have spoken and they said: John Renke

Re: Fairness? That depends on whose ox is getting gored, Sept. 15 C.T Bowen column.

Editor: As you wish to lament at your loss of innocence in the judicial race, allow me to address your concerns. Yes, the people of the 6th Judicial Circuit did elect John Renke, who will be the youngest judge. This is a historic moment and a point of pride.

As you stated, the judicial races were dull affairs. But why should we accept this? These judges render verdicts that interpret written law and affect our lives. Yes, I want to know what the people I elect think and how they will react. That is why I voted for John. At the Second Amendment Club forum in Dade City, most of the candidates were willing to answer questions. Mansfield was not so willing.

As for the flier Renke sent with the dog; it was cute. It featured the phone ad for Mansfield, not a hard negative piece. You quote Mary Repper, who represents Mansfield and Linda Babb, but she was the one who put the group mailer together, which may have violated the law as per your own paper's report. Nice source of what is fair.

The Pasco Republican Executive Committee endorsed five judges in this race; three including Renke won their race. Yes, we as a party are vocal and involved. As for the fair campaign pledge we asked the sheriff's candidates in the 2000 race to sign, it was to ensure that one candidate who was known for negative campaigns in the past would not do so again. We police our own.

Bottom line, the people spoke and gave Renke the vote of confidence with a 10,000 vote plurality.
-- Hugh Townsend, chairman, Pasco Republican Executive Committee

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