It's common to see political advertisements plastered throughout a community during election season, but some residents are calling on Jefferson City to ban these types of signs on public transportation.
Jefferson City resident Jennifer Durham noticed a couple of political candidate advertisements on the side of JeffTran buses last weekend. Since JeffTran is public transportation, Durham said, she thought it was inappropriate to have political advertisements on it.
"I am totally in favor of the First Amendment but I just feel like it's wrong for the city to (put) political signs on what is, in my opinion, city property; it's public property and it's taxpayer property," she said. "I just think whether it was for a candidate I was for or against, whether it was a proposal I was for or against, I just don't think it was a right place for political advertising."
This is not the first time political advertising has appeared on JeffTran buses. It is common for political candidates to buy advertising space on the buses during election season since "it's a big, moving billboard," Jefferson City Transit Director Mark Mehmert said.
"Every year, there's an election, there are political advertisements on the bus," he said.
The city contracts through Houck Advertising, a third-party advertising vendor, to sell advertisements on JeffTran buses. The city and Houck Advertising do not have a policy prohibiting political signs on city buses, city officials said.
"We treat political advertising the same as any other type of advertising," City Counselor Ryan Moehlman said.
Durham contacted Jefferson City Mayor Carrie Tergin and Ward 4 Councilman Carlos Graham to express her concerns. Graham plans to present the topic to the Jefferson City Public Works and Planning Committee in September.
Graham is in favor of banning political advertisements on JeffTran buses since taxpayers fund the buses.
"If it's something like a taxicab company or something, that's fine because that's their business," he said. "When you're dealing with taxpayer dollars and things like that, we need to just stay away from political ads on the side of buses."
Tergin and Mehmert emphasized advertisements on the JeffTran buses are not endorsements by the city. Tergin said she understands why members of the public might believe this, though.
"It would be worth having that discussion, and if the council would enact a policy, then that would clear up any confusion as to whether or not the city is endorsing," she said. "I can see how there could be some confusion because it is a city bus, so we want to make sure there's no confusion."
Tergin also said the council also needs to "keep in mind the balance between (the) First Amendment and what may be allowed" as to "remain fair in our policies."
Mehmert said he also is concerned refusing political advertisements would violate people's First Amendment right and open the city to legal challenges.
Other cities have limited or banned political advertising on public property, Moehlman said, adding the City Council could enact an ordinance and adjust its contract with Houck Advertising to do so.
Under the city's contract with Houck Advertising, the city does "reserve the right to refuse advertising that is disreputable or would bring the city into disrepute," Moehlman said.
"If someone has something offensive or inappropriate or something that could cause offense to people, we can refuse that type of advertising," he explained.
The city earns $13,000-$33,000 in advertising revenue annually, Mehmert said, and election season tends to bring in more advertising revenue.
Allowing advertising to offset some expenses for the bus system is helpful, Durham said, adding she is not against advertising for local businesses on JeffTran buses.