Ravenel’s First TV Spot Causes Controversy

Independent U.S. Senate candidate Thomas Ravenel has gone on the air with his campaign’s first television commercial. In the spot, embedded above, various people are seen giving the thumbs up while Ravenel narrates.

Among those features are four uniformed Charleston firefighters standing in front of a fire engine. But apparently the city has strict rules against against workers campaigning on city time.

“The incident is currently under investigation and, as with all personnel actions, we consider them confidential,” Fire Chief Karen Brack told the Post and Courier.

Ravenel is a former State Treasurer and son of former South Carolina Congressman Arthur Ravenel, Jr. In 2007, he was forced to resign from his office and later convicted of purchasing cocaine. Since then, Ravenel has turned his fortunes around, securing a starring role in Bravo’s reality series Southern Charm.

Some have wondered if this Senate bid is motivated, at least in part, as an attempt to give Ravenel the appearance of political relevance on his Bravo show.

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Ravenel narrates the ad, suggesting that the smiling people in the commercial don’t know some of the abuses the government is capable of doing.

During a closing shot of people in slow motion, Ravenel quips, “Do these people even know they are in slow motion?” as he alleges that Washington doesn’t have their back.

The ad was directed and produced by Whitney Sudler-Smith, one of Ravenel’s co-stars on his “Southern Charm” reality show now filming in Charleston.

“They signed releases, and we told them it was for a Thomas political ad,” Sudler-Smith said. “They said they loved the show and were happy to do it.”