Congressional candidate Bill McClure announces ‘digital ad buy,’ anti-pension tax petition

St. Johns County Commissioner Bill McClure may be a long shot in the race for the Republican nomination in Florida’s 4th Congressional District, which contains Nassau County and parts of Duval and St. Johns counties.

But he seems to be predicating his campaign strategy on opposition to the signature issue of Jacksonville’s political establishment: the Aug. 30 pension tax referendum, which has already been endorsed by the CD 4 front-runner John Rutherford.

Tuesday, McClure announced a digital ad buy of “targeted Facebook ads” to push an online petition opposing  the pension tax push.

“As Republicans, we are supposed to oppose tax increases. But unfortunately, this is what happens to our elected leaders. They promise us one thing on the campaign trail, then flip-flop when they get in office to appease big business and their fat cat corporate donors. And the worst part is — they demand that we pay the tab for their mismanagement and spending addiction. I’m fed up with that and that’s why I’m fighting back,” said McClure.

After playing the populist card, McClure went on to challenge his opponents’ Republican bona fides.

“I’m tired of so-called Republicans and elitists who claim to be for the people on the campaign trail, but then raise our taxes and recklessly waste our hard-earned money once they get our votes. It is wrong and we need to put an end to it,” McClure continued.

On behalf of the “Yes for Jacksonville” campaign, consultant Brian Hughes had a sharp response to McClure’s wading into the water of local issues.

“Flailing politicians who are not residents of Jacksonville are not likely to have much impact on the decision the people of Jacksonville make. The pension reform package is good for Jacksonville,” said Hughes, who expressed confidence Jacksonville residents would recognize that.