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Home > Blogs > Butler County News and Issues > Archives > 2008 > August > 20 > Entry
Candidate criticizes dog license ads
Jack Zettler, candidate for Butler County auditor, came out swinging Wednesday, Aug. 20, accusing the sitting auditor of using public money to fund campaign ads and calling for all of a levy surplus to go back to taxpayers.
Zettler referred to signs in the back of county dog warden vehicles advertising the sale of dog licenses and featuring Auditor Roger Reynolds’ name. See a photo of the sign to the right.
“I just don’t know why it’s necessary to have the auditor’s office named on the van when (the dog warden’s office is) independent of the auditor’s office, in theory,” Zettler said. “I as a taxpayer find it offensive that my money is being spent to fund disguised political ads.”
Reynolds said the signs were printed in-houses at minimal cost, and that there’s nothing political about them. “I have to let people know what services we’re providing,” he said.
Zettler also criticized public service announcements that feature Reynolds talking about upcoming property value assessments, comparing them to dog license commercials former auditor Kay Rogers ran during her 2006 election.
“I don’t think it’s proper for an elected official to do things at election time to get his name out there that aren’t done the rest of the time,” he said. “I don’t think it’s proper conduct.”
Reynolds said producing and airing the public service announcement on local cable stations cost roughly $7,500.
“I thought it was relatively efficient to get such a big message out,” he said. “I didn’t do a dog license PSA. I did a real estate re-evaluation PSA, which takes place this year and is very important to every property owner in the county.”
Zettler also called for county commissioners to refund to taxpayers the $21 million surplus projected for a senior services levy by 2010. Commissioners are weighing a full refund against pushing back levy renewal or using for programming and capital projects at local senior centers.
“The surplus money collected is not the elected official’s found treasure to be squandered on their next pet project or to be used to hire more of their friends and relatives,” Zettler said in a prepared statement. “It is money that should be returned to the taxpayers that paid it as quickly and economically as possible.”
Reynolds agreed, absent the criticism of county leaders. “I feel any surplus should be returned to the taxpayers,” he said.
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