'Tats for Trump' inks tattoos for campaign donations

PANAMA CITY BEACH — Whether or not Donald Trump is elected president, his campaign is forever etched on the flesh of Tony Super.

Super was at Electroluxe Tattoo Co. on Saturday to get a tattoo on his back supporting the candidate and incorporating the Republican elephant and American flag. His tattoo was part of an event labeled “Tats for Trumps,” where permanent and temporary political tattoos were given for customers who donated to the Trump presidential campaign.

The event, which also featured voter registration, was hosted at Electroluxe and organized by the Trump Bay County campaign. Pre-designed tattoos were available, though for Super his design was his own idea.

The Trump tattoo is not the only one for Super, who stopped counting his ink at 32. Superman and the Statue of Liberty are among the other symbols on his body.

“Every tattoo has meaning,” Super said.

The meaning behind his newest tattoo was the straight-shooter he perceived Trump to be. A lifelong Republican, Super said his endorsement of Trump came from a desire to see more support for veterans and issues surrounding VA treatment.

“I like his ideas,” Super said while the tattoo gun buzzed as it went against his skin. “He says what’s on his mind. Hr’s got some great ideas. Make America great again. ... He’s brought [the Republican Party] more to light, more out in the open. He’s made more people excited and enthusiastic to make some changes quickly.”

Another Trump tattoo seeker was Katie Furr, who co-owns Gears Transmission and Auto Repair in Panama City with her husband, Jay Furr. As Katie Furr contemplated whether to get a Trump tattoo on her ankle, her husband praised Trump, who he and his wife saw campaign in Pensacola.

“I like his attitude,” he said. “We fell in love with him.”

Jay Furr got into politics as a young child, when Ronald Reagan was in office, and he said he’s never felt as excited about a politician until Trump came around. The election has been going in Trump’s favor , he added, saying the country will change for the better if Trump is elected because he will improve the economy with tax cuts and reduced government spending.

The Furrs have hung a Trump banner at their business, which has led to some detraction and what Furr says is scrutiny from state and federal authorities. In response to claims that Trump and his supporters are homophobic and xenophobic, alleged in a negative Facebook review of their business, Jay Furr said everyone has an opinion and most critics of Trump were on welfare.

“Any red-blooded American who wants to earn what they have can’t be against him,” Jay Furr said of Trump. “I’m a conservative and I’m a Christian man.”

Electroluxe is owned by Steve Thomas, who is also running for Bay County Commissioner District 3 against incumbent Bill Dozier. Thomas supports Trump and felt the event was an out-of-the-box and easy idea to show support. The idea drew the attention of the Trump Bay County campaign, which thought it was a fabulous idea, Thomas said.

“Everything about Donald Trump I love,” Thomas said. “I think what’s going on in the national level is transcending on the local level as well. People on a national level are seeing a need for a business-minded person to run the country and it’s transcending to local as well.”