Finkbeiner spots address safety, jobs
10/29/2005The Carty Finkbeiner camp yesterday unveiled two new campaign ads, one that appears to allude to the Oct. 15 riot, then ends with endorsements from local police and fire safety unions, and another criticizing Mayor Jack Ford's record on job creation.
The 30-second spots begin airing on local broadcast and cable channels this weekend, said Mike Hart, president and CEO of Hart Associates, which produced the ads.
The first opens with a shot of a police cruiser's flashing lights as an announcer intones, "Recent events call for attention. The needs run deep and now more than ever we must rely on the responsible action of our public safety crews. Their heroic acts in troubled times are required to maintain order and calm."
No footage from the riot appears, and Mr. Hart and Mr. Finkbeiner's campaign manager, Bob Reinbolt, said it is not a direct reference.
"It's safety and security in the city, not just an allusion to the riot," Mr. Hart said.
"It's more about safety generally," Mr. Reinbolt said.
"Gang activity and crime is increasing. 'Recent events,' to my mind, pertains to issues about security as a whole. It's not just centered on that [the riot]."
That spot does not mention Mr. Ford. The second, however, is all about the mayor, contending the city has lost jobs, and Owens-Illinois, under Mr. Ford's tenure.
Mr. Ford's record is fair game, Mr. Reinbolt said. "We're not going to negative from a perspective of trying to throw mud," he said.
The new ads debut after a week of contentious campaigning by both candidates, including an acrimonious debate Thursday night in which each linked the other with Tom Noe, indicted Thursday by a federal grand jury on allegations he laundered money to the Bush-Cheney re-election campaign.
- VANESSA WINANS