Florida’s Department of Financial Services has spent $1,499,860 on a series of television public service announcements (PSAs) about hurricane preparedness. The ads, which began airing shortly after the August primary, feature CFO candidate Jimmy Ingoglia’s photo and direct viewers to a website with safety tips and consumer information.
Republican candidate says the ads are pure public service
Ingoglia’s communications director, Sydney Booker, emphasized that the spots provide essential guidance to Floridians facing storms, help reduce insurance costs, and protect lives and property. The statement stressed that any suggestion the messages are tied to campaign activity is “misguided” and urged voters to focus on the practical value of the information.
Democratic challenger and watchdogs call the ads political
Democratic CFO hopeful and former state senator Annette Taddeo called the PSAs “political ads paid for by taxpayers,” arguing that the inclusion of Ingoglia’s image turns a public‑service effort into a campaign tool. “These people are still using the people’s money to campaign,” Taddeo said at a news conference.
Integrity Florida consumer‑watchdog Ben Wilcox echoed that sentiment, noting that state law prohibits the use of public funds for political campaigning. “We’re not supposed to use taxpayer dollars for political campaigns,” he said, adding that the Legislature should address the issue to prevent future misuse.
Academic perspective on the line between service and promotion
UCF political science professor Dr. Aubrey Jewett reviewed the spots and concluded that while the content is useful, the presentation “skirts the line between a public service announcement and a campaign ad.” She recommended that incumbents be prohibited from using public dollars to promote themselves.
Financial details of the ad purchase
WESH‑2 obtained a purchase order showing the Department of Financial Services paid Strategic Digital Services for the advertising campaign. The contract covered the production and placement of the television spots across multiple stations statewide.
Responses from the Ingoglia campaign
Ingoglia’s campaign spokesperson Yohanna de la Torre replied to Taddeo’s criticism, stating, “If (Annette Taddeo’s) biggest issue with the CFO’s office is hurricane preparedness in hurricane season, voters can decide who’s out of touch.” The campaign framed the debate as a question of who best serves Floridians during the storm season.
While the controversy continues, the PSAs remain on air, offering guidance on preparing for hurricanes that typically peak from August through October. The discussion highlights the ongoing tension in Florida politics over the appropriate use of public resources during election cycles.
Original reporting: WESH Orlando — read the source article.
