Letters to the Editor: Rick Caruso isn’t buying an election. His spending is protected speech. In fact, he is an elected official and thus entitled to run for office.
CARUSO: I have a right to complain about the spending in this election. I’m not buying an election.
That’s right.
I have paid for my own campaign.
That’s right, I’ve purchased my own campaign.
I have paid for my own campaign because I have a right to complain about the spending in this election.
And for what purpose did I spend $10,000 to put up a sign?
It’s a sign.
It’s not a sign. It’s a sign with a price tag attached.
And it says “Vote for Rick Caruso for City Council.”
The sign is illegal in the city of Poughkeepsie.
In fact, if anyone in this race ever saw my sign, I’m pretty positive they would be arrested.
This is a disgrace.
But I don’t intend to get out there and do an election myself.
As long as I buy my own campaigns, I’m safe.
In other words, a person is not going to be buying my election.
I will always, always have my own money to spend.
When I buy my own campaign, I’m going to be the cheapest campaign that has ever run.
I will go to the cheapest advertising firm that has ever existed on this planet.
I will go to the cheapest ad agency that has ever existed on this planet.
I will go to whatever firm is willing to send me.
These people are going to spend a great amount of money.
I’m not even going to spend that much money.
So I’m going to be the cheapest campaign run in City Council history.
No one has ever run an election with less than $10,000 of their own money.
It doesn’t matter.
It’s illegal.
It doesn’t count.
It doesn’t work.