Fort Myers Florida Weekly
February 14, 2008

"Clydesdale" big game ad tops in Fort Myers

Budweiser's "Clydesdale-in-Training" and Tide to Go's "Talking Stain" scored the most points with Southwest Floridians during Super Bowl Sunday according to an overnight poll by Quenzel & Associates, the Fort Myers-based branding, advertising and Web marketing agency. Conducted among a representative group of Southwest Floridians, the online poll also showed that Diet Pepsi Max and the Gatorade drinking dog did well among consumers.

"What each of these commercials has in common is likeability. Over the years, we've learned that likeability is the single biggest factor in a commercial's ability to persuade," said Quenzel.

"In fact, studies show that people who say they liked a commercial 'a lot' are twice as likely to be persuaded by it."

On the other side, commercials that score poorly with consumers tend to break the most important rule; they rub people the wrong way. Generally described as phony, irritating or worn out, the Quenzel & Associates Super Commercial Poll showed that Audi, Under Amour and Amp Energy Drink fumbled their big chance to win friends and influence people, reported Quenzel.

The Lee County Board of County Commissioners has announced the six finalists for the 17th annual Paulette Burton Citizen of the Year Award for 2007. The finalists are: Ann Bruning (Captiva), John Bunch (St James City), Bruce Gora (Fort Myers), Lalai Hamric (Fort Myers), Kevin Lewis (Fort Myers) and Gregg Makepeace (North Fort Myers).

The winner will be announced at the 9:30 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 19 Lee County Commission meeting in the second floor chambers in the Old Lee County Courthouse (2120 Main Street in downtown Fort Myers.)

The Board of County Commissioners appointed a committee of six individuals to narrow the list of 10 nominations to the six finalists. The Commissioners will select the winner from that list of six.

The award was created in 1991 to honor Burton, a long time Sanibel Island resident and government watch dog. She spent many years serving as a voice of the people to the Lee County Board of County Commissioners as well as playing an active role in Sanibel politics. She died in a 1991 car accident.