McGrail: Campaign mostly self-funded
To the editor:
I feel the need to respond to Ms. Rosko’s personal attack on me concerning campaign contributions (Oct 10). Her statement that I somehow tried to deceive anyone concerning the contribution I received from Newcom Real Properties is patently false. I listed the check correctly per city clerk and Florida Election Campaign itemized contributions as a business check.
She then goes on to quote numerous statistics from Treasurer Reports with glaring intentional omissions.
Here are the financial facts of my campaign as of the current summary filed Oct 15. I have received $7,230 of which $6,680 comes from my own personal loan contributions to my campaign. In other words, my run for office is currently funded 92 percent by me. I’m not rich, but I have been willing to “put it all on the line” at this critical time for Cape Coral’s future. The $250 from Newcom represents 3.5 percent of my campaign finances. As she liked to quote in her diatribe, You Decide, would I or any other rational person “sell out” to special interests after funding 92 percent of my own campaign? Based on her statement of only wanting to support candidates that do not get their support from “special interests”, should I now expect Ms. Rosko’s vote for me on Nov 3? I didn’t think so. Perhaps her next letter could just support her predetermined slate of four candidates without willfully smearing the four people she doesn’t want to vote for.
I emerged from the Sept 15. Primary election as the front-running candidate for City Council District 6 with 46 percent of the vote. Evidently 3,573 people felt I would make an honest, hard working representative for them on Council. It’s unfortunate Ms Rosko doesn’t agree with them, but I don’t feel it gives her the right to bend the truth to suit her voting opinions. I did not sign the “Road Ahead contract” nor did I party post election at Councilman Brandt’s house like my opponent and the rest of the slate candidates did. Instead you will find me on the front page of the Sept. 16 Breeze hugging my grandchildren and celebrating with my family. So once again to use Ms. Rosko’s words, You Decide, who are the independent thinking candidates in this election November 3?
Kevin McGrail MT(ASCP)
Candidate for Cape Coral Council Dist. 6