Campaign Ad Slams Pat Gerard For History Supporting Tax Increases
PINELLAS COUNTY (FLV) – A political campaign ad slammed current Democrat Pinellas County Commissioner Pat Gerard for her history supporting tax increases.
Gerard is running for re-election against Republican Brian Scott to represent District 2 in Pinellas County.
Pat Gerard never met a tax she didn’t like. Higher gas taxes: Gerard was for it.
Highest sales taxes in the state: Gerard was for that too.
Higher property taxes: Gerard was for it six times over.
Higher pay for politicians like herself: Oh yeah, Gerard was for it.
So what is she against, letting you vote on term limits. What a surprise.
Pat Gerard higher taxes for bad ideas.
Campaign Ad
Higher Gas Taxes
A Tampa Bay Times article reports Pinellas County Commissioners, including Pat Gerard, were “open” to discussing gas tax increases to fill in the “gaping hole” in the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority’s budget.
Property Tax Rates
As mayor of Largo in 2011, Gerard voted to tentatively approve a millage rate increase for the following year.
“I think the people of Largo are happy with what we are doing, and I’m going to vote for this tax rate,’ Gerard reportedly said.
Voted to Give Herself a Raise
As a Tampa Bay City Commissioner, Gerard reportedly voted to give the city commission a 3% raise in 2004.
Supported Sales Tax Increase
Gerard is on the record supporting a transit referendum that would increase the county’s sales tax by a penny if approved by the voters in November of 2014. The article reports that is it the “highest sales tax in the state.”
Voters reportedly overwhelmingly voted down the plan because of the sales tax increase.
Term Limits
This year a group of citizens led an effort to impose term limits on the Pinellas County Commission. Gerard said “we will have a lot more to worry about than term limits” if her opponents win.
Gerard is reportedly running for a third term and said that elections serve as de facto term limits because incumbents can be voted out.
