Mayoral candidate Steve Francis today will begin airing a new television ad called “Sweep,” his fourth television spot in less than five weeks.
With more than 10 weeks to go before the June 3 primary, Francis has been on television daily since Feb. 19, an unprecedented buy by a candidate who is expected to shatter local records for personal spending in a citywide race. His opponent, Mayor Jerry Sanders, likely won’t hit the television airwaves until a few weeks before the election, as he is relying on traditional fundraising.
Here’s the ad:
Here’s the script:
NARRATOR: There’s a budget crisis in San Diego and nothing is being done.
Steve Francis — an independent for mayor.
He’ll open up the budget to the public to expose inside deals, stop lobbyists from serving on boards and commissions, cut waste so we can fix roads and improve fire and police protection.
Sweep out the old, in with the new.
STEVE FRANCIS: I want to get a big broom and sweep them all out. And get this city moving again.
NARRATOR: Steve Francis, an Independent Mayor. For a change.
Francis’ first two ads were biographical; this one gives a broad and vague outline of his agenda, but still stays away from going after Sanders. Negative ads, if they’re employed, won’t likely come until closer to Election Day.
A few points on this ad: It says Francis will open up the budget to “expose inside deals.” However, inside deals usually aren’t found in the budget, rather, they tend to be understood through other means like specific contracts, deals or votes, or personal connections. Francis’ pledge to top lobbyists from serving on boards and commissions was one floated by Donna Frye in the 2005 campaign, and one she openly attributed to Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.
The promise to cut waste is pretty vague as well; Francis has said he would essentially undertake many of the streamlining initiatives pushed by Sanders, only he would do them without the delays. Francis has pushed for giving firefighters and police raises, but he hasn’t said precisely how he would pay for them other than exploring the possibility of creating a fire prevention district.