The advocacy group Campaign for Vermont is launching a series of television ads ahead of the 2014 legislative session.
The group, which bills itself as the “fastest growing grassroots organization in the state,” is spending $60,000 on ads that will air through December.
Bruce Lisman, the co-founder who is also bankrolling the organization, says the point of the first ad, which can be viewed here, is simply to remind Vermonters “who we are and what we stand for.”
In defense of the ad, which has been characterized as “vague” and “totally devoid of specifics” in news reports, Lisman said, “It’s the first ad, it’s not the last ad.”
Subsequent ads, Lisman said, will discuss specific reform proposals, related to topics such as education and transparency, that Campaign for Vermont plans to lobby for in the Legislature.
But before delving into specifics, Lisman said, he wants to make sure people understand that Campaign for Vermont doesn’t have a particular political bent — “We are pretty centrist,” Lisman maintains — and that the group is a “partner coalition.”
Paul Heintz of Seven Days reported that Lisman has personally spent over $810,000 to fund Campaign for Vermont, roughly $300,000 of which was spent on ads.
A press release announcing the ad campaign mentions that the organization is trying to reach beyond Lisman’s pockets for financial stability.
“The organization, which is currently funded by Lisman, has recently begun to fundraise in support of its advocacy efforts and move to a self-sustaining financial model,” it notes.
