Antitax group targets Hillsborough Commissioner Mark Sharpe over rail support

TAMPA — An Orlando group launched an antitax ad campaign over the weekend, hoping to turn Hillsborough voters against a 1 cent sales tax increase for transportation in November.

Ax the Tax has fought tax increases and rail plans throughout the state since its creation in 1986. The tax proposed for Hillsborough would pay for road improvements, expanded bus service and rail.

But Ax the Tax's ad, aired on cable stations, never mentions the referendum.

Instead, it's an attack on Republican County Commissioner Mark Sharpe, a vocal proponent of the tax who is seeking re-election.

"We're hopeful that Hillsborough County taxpayers will remove him from office based on his support of rail," Doug Guetzloe, chairman of Ax the Tax, said at a news conference Monday at County Center.

Sharpe is facing Josh Burgin in the Republican primary. Burgin, who has built his campaign around Sharpe's support of the tax, is receiving backing from entrepreneur Sam Rashid, who also made a $500 contribution to Ax the Tax.

"We hope Sam Rashid will send us more," Guetzloe said.

Guetzloe said the group will produce materials specifically opposing the referendum, but right now, the focus is on Sharpe and the Aug. 24 primary.

"Mr. Sharpe's election provides a barometer for the November election," Guetzloe said. "If he is defeated in the primary, we think that will give us continued impetus to win in November."

At the news conference, Guetzloe did talk about taxes and rail in addition to Sharpe.

"Government revenue is not the problem. Government spending is the problem," he said. "If they want to build rail, which we think is not a transportation alternative, they certainly have plenty of mechanisms to do that without asking hard-pressed taxpayers for additional money."

As a case in point, Guetzloe pointed to 2007 state transportation legislation that budgeted $48 million for an opulent courthouse in Tallahassee. "Marble bathrooms? You can't tell taxpayers that there isn't money available," he said.

Hillsborough's planned rail line, he said, will be a "complete disaster" with few riders, congestion caused by tracks that cross major intersections, and increased noise and air pollution.

Supporters of the tax say it will create jobs and spur economic development. They also note that Tampa lags behind other major metropolitan areas that already have rail systems.

Sharpe said he's not worried about the Ax the Tax campaign.

"The voters will have an opportunity to weigh in on this and many other issues in November," Sharpe said. "I've got supporters who support the referendum and those who are opposed to it, and they support me because I respect their right to make that decision in November."

He also said he had questions about the credibility of Guetzloe.

"This whole thing is a house of cards," Sharpe said.

Guetzloe said Monday that his group has budgeted $75,000 for its campaign opposing the Hillsborough sales tax and spent $10,000 on the anti-Sharpe ads. But the organization's most recent campaign finance reports show it has raised just $3,100 in this election cycle.

Guetzloe explained that his group just recently started collecting money in support of its latest effort.

Guetzloe has faced criticism from tea party activists and the Republican Party for his work as an adviser to the Florida Tea Party. The newly created Tea Party put little-known candidates in races all over the state this year, raising concerns among the GOP that they will take votes away from Republican candidates.

Janet Zink can be reached at jzink@sptimes.com or (813) 226-3401.