Philip Levine campaign releases ad on algae

Democratic candidate for governor Philip Levine has dropped a new ad focused on Lake Okeechobee’s algae crisis.

The ad comes “as discharges are set to resume and bring toxic blue-green algae flowing into the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee Rivers,” the campaign said in a Friday release.

The new 30-second spot, “Toxic,” highlights Levine’s “commitment to take action and protect Florida’s waterways” and will air in the Palm Beach media market.

“This is where Floridians will fight to protect our future,” Levine, a former Miami Beach mayor, said in a statement. “Algae pollution is poisoning the water and threatening local jobs, while moms are losing sleep over their children’s health.

“The answer (is) to move quickly and with a high sense of urgency, get help to businesses needing it most, and bring in our best ecologists to end this nightmare,” he added.

“We’ve waited long enough. And rest assured, I’ll take on Rick Scott, or anyone, who turns their back on us now.”