Republican lieutenant governor candidate Randy Brock came out swinging Monday with two radio ads that accuse his opponent of being untrustworthy.

In the ads Brock claims that Progressive/Democrat David Zuckerman has a record “that should concern all of us.”

“The job of lieutenant governor, a heartbeat away from being governor, is too important to elect someone we can’t trust,” Brock says in one of the ads.

The hard-hitting radio ads, Brock’s first in the race for the open seat, are a departure for the mild-mannered former state senator and state auditor from Swanton. In one of the ads, Brock makes several allegations about Zuckerman’s judgment over the years.
He noted that Zuckerman took reimbursements for mileage as a state legislator when he was carpooling with others. Zuckerman sponsored legislation that would have helped small farmers like him, Brock charged. And Zuckerman sought to quash political speech he disagreed with, he said.

“He’s a strong supporter of laws that would expose our schoolchildren to dangerous diseases by discouraging vaccinations,” Brock said, referring to Zuckerman’s support for a parental vaccination exemption. 

In a second ad, Brock, who is black, reiterated accusations he made last month about Zuckerman using racial incidents for his political benefit.
Zuckerman, a state senator and former House member, defended the actions Brock cited. On mileage reimbursement, which Zuckerman admitted to accepting in 2010, he said legislators routinely received mileage and meals for every day the legislature was in session. “I followed the practice exactly as I was told to do it,” he said.

Legislative lawyers have subsequently offered new guidance, and Zuckerman said he submits mileage each week only for miles driven.

Zuckerman argued that Brock’s accusation that he benefited from any legislation is outlandish. He introduced a bill that would encourage people to invest in small farms, but suggested lawmakers lower the size threshold so it wouldn’t include his farm, he said.

As a farmer with employees, he will be affected by the higher minimum wage he supported, he said.

“To charge me with personal gain out of 18 years of public service — ask my family about what one gives vs. what one gets,” he said.

On the subject of vaccinations: Zuckerman has said he trusts the science and his own daughter has been vaccinated. But he believes parents of children who have had bad reactions to the shots should be able to opt out of vaccinating their other kids.

Brock bought air time on Hall Communications radio stations, including WJOY, WOKO and WIZN, campaign spokesman Dustin Degree said. So far, he’s spent $3,904 but expects to place more ads soon, Degree said.

Zuckerman, who ran television ads during his Democratic primary election campaign, said he’s not sure he will do the same in the general election.