Congressional candidate Bill Mitchell sets up legal defense fund
December 1, 2008 at 12:03 pm by Wayne GarciaThe fun and games in the Congressional 9th primary aren’t over. Bill Mitchell, who bested two other Democrats for the right to be dismantled by incumbent Congressman Gus Bilirakis, said this weekend via e-mail that he has established a legal defense fund to pay for the cost of defending himself against a lawsuit brought by his opponent John Dicks:
Bill Mitchell announced the formation of a legal defense fund today to provide funds to help him defend a lawsuit brought against him as a result of his successful primary campaign. The trustee for the fund is Robert LaPlant, C.P.A.
“The stakes are high, Mitchell said. “Political free speech is the bedrock of our political process and is protected by the First Amendment. The alleged defamatory statements are accurate and based on public records. I am confident the courts will vindicate the statements.”
The lawsuit was filed by John Dicks, a congressional candidate who was defeated by Mitchell in the Democratic primary. Mitchell campaign ads revealed unfavorable information about controversies between John Dicks and some of his clients.
Contributions should be made to the Bill Mitchell Defense fund, PO Box 273975, Tampa Fla. 33688-3975.
