Pollina Charges Douglas with Failure to Buy Local

Press Release

Pollina Charges Douglas with Failure to Buy Local

Anthony Pollina is charging Jim Douglas with failing to buy local in his campaign for Governor.

Pollina says Douglas is ignoring local businesses using most of his campaign money to pay out of state businesses for work Vermonters could be doing.

To date, Douglas has spent almost $700,000 on out of state firms for campaign related services.

A review of Douglas' campaign finance reports through October 25th shows that more than 70% of his campaign expenses have been outsourced to out of state companies. The Douglas campaign spent a total of $967,400 on the campaign. $684,635 of that was paid to out of state businesses, much of it to firms in Florida and Virginia for polling and media consulting.

"I don't understand why our Governor would be spending most of his own money on out of state businesses," said Pollina, "Douglas just can't walk the walk when it comes to buying local and supporting local businesses."

Throughout the campaign Pollina has pointed out that Douglas opposes a state Buy Local program and promised the Bush Administration he would not give preference to local businesses in state buying decisions.

"Just yesterday, we received word that Douglas spent an additional $11,550.22 out of state for additional advertisements attacking me. I expect to be attacked by Douglas, but Jim, I sure would hope that if you attack me, you would at least use Vermont businesses. Then at least we could both feel good about supporting our local economy. That $700,000 would go a long way toward stimulating Vermont's economy in this downturn." said Pollina.

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