FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 13, 2011
CONTACT: Daniel Scarpinato
Reformer premieres first television ad in the runoff for Phoenix mayor
PHOENIX – Wes Gullett has premiered his first television ad in the runoff for Phoenix mayor, running on local network stations and cable.
Titled “MythBuster,” Gullett pokes fun of his uncanny resemblance to Adam Savage, host of “MythBusters” on the Discovery Channel.
And just like the ginger-haired host, Gullett does his own myth-busting of the naysayers at City Hall who are advocating for the status quo.
“The status quo isn’t working,” Gullett says in the ad. “They raised your water rates. They created a food tax. And they continue to waste your money. While too many families in Phoenix are struggling to make ends meet.”
“Greg Stanton spent nine years at City Hall, and I’m here to clean up his mess,” Gullett says. “It’s time for a businessman, not another career-politician. Let’s get Phoenix working again!”
Mythbusters® is a registered trademark of Discovery Communications Inc. Does not imply endorsement by Mythbusters®, Discovery Communications Inc., or Adam Savage.
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Great ad!
Good Ad! To the point and real. We really need new people and a new direction in the leadership of Phoenix. Phoenix has GREAT potential. We need someone who has the strength to develop her assets and take Phoenix in that new direction for the great future that Phoenix and Phoenicians deserve. Wes stands alone in this race as the only one with new ideas and the strength to lead.
Our Local Fire Fighters are going door to door this weekend to make the truth be known. I am a bit puzzled by the fact that a few weeks ago I was reading so many comments here that were clearly not supportive of Gullett, but now that seems to have changed.
The truth about the 2% food tax which adds about $2 per week to the average family’s grocery bill is that it did not go to city employee pay raises. This money went to saving 62 fire fighters and 117 police officers, kept 3 engines, 1 ladder truck and 1 rescue squad in operation, and additionally saved 5 community centers, 5 senior centers and 3 libraries. The money did not go to any pay raises.
Last year, the Phoenix City Council (not “the mayor”) passed a 4.4% increase, the smallest since 2002. As an “enterprise fund” water revenues by law cannot fund other city departments. Instead, this money went to pay for unfunded state and federal mandates, increased chemical costs, and voter approved debt payments on infra-structure projects. Even with this increase, Phoenix water rates are in the lowest 1/3 of the 20 largest cities in the country.
Amidst the dire financial straights of 2010, city employees, led by the Fire Fighters Union, took a 3.2% pay cut. These concessions saved the city more than $100 million. The average Phoenix fire fighter makes nowhere near the $100,000 salary plus benefits that have been touted by many Republican politicians.
August 2011 was the busiest month ever in city history, with calls up 8.5% over last year. In the past year, Phoenix fire fighters responded to more than 165,000 emergency calls, even though they were short 150 fire fighters positions from previous levels of coverage.
In 2010 the United Phoenix Fire Fighters Charities raised over $750,000 and contributed to 46 charitable organizations. They have given freely of their own time to raise these contributions, as well as participate actively in their communities in coaching childrens’ sports, Scouts, church groups, HOAs and other activities.
It really bothers me personally to hear the things that certain politicians say. I find it personally offensive, because if it were not for our local fire station only about a block from my home, my daughter would be dead. I found her unresponsive on the floor one night a few years ago from an acute medical condition. I called 911 and they were here within 60 seconds. The got her heart started while she lay on the floor, and twice more en route to the hospital. She was hospitalized for 6 weeks and underwent numerous surgeries and a lengthy recovery. But she is alive. Because of these heros. I also was witness to a bus passenger suffering from seizures for quite some time. The bus driver was told by his supervisor to continue to the end of the line and he would be met there by the supervisor. I said no way and made the driver stop and call 911 when we were near a fire station. First responders found this passenger near death in dire need of insulin. They said he probably had about 2 or 3 more minutes, not long enough to get to the end of the route and be met by a supervisor and decide what to do.
So, let’s do the math. For an average of $2 a week more for my groceries, $8 – $10 a month, we keep these brave men and women able to respond to emergencies everywhere in Phoenix. It’s well worth it to me.
If a politician tries to tell you that city employees union negotiations and pay raises are the reason for the food sales tax and the water rate increase, I strongly urge you to ask for proof before you vote. It simply is not true.
SW – I’m trying to be on my best behavior! I hope I succeeded.
Too bad Gullet wasn’t able to gut the city of phoenix.