Mitch Perry
In his latest campaign television ad, independent Joe Redner is mocking Republican Dana Young’s own campaign spots.
“My opponent likes to talk about puppies,” begins the ad, which then cuts to Young’s much talked about campaign spot featuring cute puppies. “Puppy ads are great,” Redner says. “It tells you what Dana Young can do when she’s not being paid off by the special interests.”
The ad then cuts to the climax of another Young ad where she stares into the camera and asks, “Has government lost its mind?”
Redner repeats the line, and then says, “You’ve been in the Legislature for six years, Dana. You are the government!”
When asked to comment, Young said, “I’m glad that Mr. Redner likes my commercials enough to feature them in his.”
The ad begin running this weekend.
The 76-year old Redner has run for local and state office multiple times over the years in Hillsborough County, but he’s never expended the resources that he is in his current bid to win the newly created seat, which encompasses South Tampa and most of western Hillsborough County.
The state Senate District 18 seat is a four-person affair. In addition to Young and Redner, Democrat Bob Buesing and independent Sheldon Upthegrove are also in the race.
As of September 30, Redner had spent $214,079 on his campaign, much of it his own pockets.
