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Ambler Shouldn't Spend To Beat Shadow

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 1, 2008

A loophole in elections law allows State Rep. Kevin Ambler to campaign against a friend whose name won't even appear on the ballot.

If the write-in candidate had not signed up to run, Ambler would have been unopposed. Campaign-finance laws strictly limit the amount of money an unopposed candidate can spend, Tribune political reporter William March points out.

The entry of the Florida State University student into the race requires that Ambler's name appear on the ballot in November. And it allows him to spend campaign contributions rather than having to return them or donate them to charity.

Ambler is doing nothing illegal. But to conform to the spirit of the law, he should behave as though he were unopposed. His opponent, Ian Grossman, hasn't a prayer of winning. It would be a surprise if Grossman gets more than a handful of votes. He might not even vote for himself.

Ambler calls it a "great learning experience" for his young friend, who is interested in politics. It's more of an opportunity to see why the public has so little faith in their elected representatives.

By running an active campaign, Ambler can tell voters in the district about his accomplishments and plans. His name will be fresh on their minds when he runs for state Senate in 2010. They can expect to hear nothing from Grossman.

A better way for Ambler to start his 2010 campaign would be to step up to the high ground. He should fold his campaign and stop collecting contributions.

By doing so he would give his friend a rare lesson in ethics.

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