When a politician is sleazier than a strip club, and why the strip club will win
Ronda Storms, Hillsborough County commissioner representing District 4, recently added another layer of shoes to her already high horse. She made phone calls to companies sponsoring a local charity event in order to make them aware of a most heinous offense: Joe Redner wants to help children.
It seems that Ronda did not like the idea of a company that owns a local strip club (among other such scandalous ventures as health clubs and real estate) having its logo on an invitation for a children's charity that so happened to have a picture of, well, a child. She called several of the other sponsors to warn them of Redner's involvement. Understanding that county commissioners don't usually just call to chat, some of the sponsors bowed out. Fortunately the last word is that the event will continue.
I have plenty of things to say about the negative effects of strip clubs. I also have plenty of things to say about the negative effects of glazed doughnuts. My personal opinion does not enter into this. What does enter into this is that there is a need to be filled, and Joe Redner wanted to help.
Ronda Storms has made it quite clear in her time as county commissioner that she has a lot to say. But her status as elected official does not provide her with the right to turn her personal opinion into policy. Joe Redner is a member of this community like any other. I'm assuming he's a taxpayer - the way he's vilified by some in local government, I'm sure someone has probably scoured his tax records many times. That some of that money has been derived from a salacious yet completely legal venture should not be of any concern to a government official, at least not to the point that she turns her office into the morality police.
Or maybe we need to dig through the garbage of the other sponsors involved in the event. A Michigan man was recently arrested after having sex with a teenager in his room at the Wyndham Westshore hotel, which was a sponsor and is hosting the event. Maybe that's why they withdrew sponsorship. I ask you this, Ronda Storms: do you get Cinemax?
Ultimately, I think this whole thing is going to work out just fine. The organizers of the event has hoped to raise $30,000 at this year's event. After one of the potential beneficiaries removed itself from the auction, the goals were scaled down, hoping to just recoup the $1,200 it will cost to send 15 kids to the camp involved with the charity that stuck it out. My guess it that the publicity generated by this debacle will increase awareness of the event, and that people with giving hearts and utter disdain for what Ronda Storms has been doing with her time and our money for the last seven years will make sure that this charity benefits greatly.
And Ronda Storms? I imagine she's already moved on, content with this latest bow to her base, hoping someone will help her off her horse.
Posted by Joel at 11/16/2005 10:01:00 PM
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