Amid tightening polls, Collier First to Launch General Election Communication
AUSTIN, TX —Following last week’s public polling showing a 4-point race for Texas Lt. Governor, Collier for Lt. Governor announced the launch of the campaign’s first television ad of the general election. The 30-second ad, titled “Fix the Damn Grid,” comes amid record-breaking heat and regular ERCOT conservation alerts – and takes direct aim at incumbent Dan Patrick for his failure to fix the Texas electric grid following last year’s deadly winter storm, instead appointing campaign donors to oversee ERCOT as Texas consumers pay higher electricity bills each month.
Collier, an energy expert who has made the grid a key focus of his campaign since last year, announced the spot as part of the launch of a six-figure television and digital spend that will begin airing July 25 in Texas’ three of Texas’ largest media markets—Dallas, Houston, and Austin—and will run through early August.
With “Fix the Damn Grid” hitting the airwaves, Collier becomes the first statewide candidate to air general election television advertising.
Campaign Manager, Ali S. Zaidi, issued the following statement:
“With 4 months to close a narrow 4-point gap, this is the next step in a multimillion-dollar effort to remind millions of Texans that in the wake of a catastrophic, deadly freeze, their energy prices skyrocketed while Dan Patrick put his rich campaign donors on the ERCOT board.
And while Dan Patrick continues to hide from the voters of Texas, Mike Collier will be on the ground, on the airwaves, and online – exposing the truth about Dan Patrick’s eight years of failure.”
TRANSCRIPT: “FIX THE DAMN GRID”
| Since last year, I’ve been calling on Dan Patrick to fix the damn grid | Energy expert expresses concern over Texas’ electrical grid An energy expert said he is concerned the state hasn’t done what it needs to do to fix the electrical grid – and Texans will be left paying a hefty price. |
| Now we’re staring down more blackouts because that didn’t happen. | Texans worry power grid can’t withstand extreme heat after previous catastrophic failures Fast-forward to 2022, and the Texas power grid faces another challenge – keeping up with the high demand to cool homes and businesses as temperatures reach above 100 degrees. |
| But here’s what did happen.Dan Patrick put his rich campaign donors right there on the ERCOT board, | Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick: Statement on the Appointment of G. Brint Ryan to the ERCOT Board Selection Committee: “Brint Ryan is one of the most successful business leaders in Texas and the nation. He has significant experience working with search firms and directly hiring high-level staff around the world. He is perfect for this crucial appointment to select members of the ERCOT Board.” ERCOT selection committee appoints two new members to board of directors: “Foster is perhaps El Paso’s leading business figure and a major GOP donor. He practiced accounting in a firm there before working for a refinery, which he and associates eventually purchased out of bankruptcy.” |
| While our energy bills went through the roof. | Electricity Bills in Texas Have Jumped an Average of 70% “We’ve never seen prices this high,” Tim Morstad, associate state director for AARP Texas, said. |
| When your lights go out, call Dan Patrick.Tell him this is the cost of his failure over 8 years in office. | Democrat Mike Collier says Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick wrong on energy, education “It’s time we throw some scoundrels out,” the lieutenant governor contender says of the November election. |
| You didn’t fix the damn grid, Dan.So now its time to go. |