An editorial from The Exponent Telegram
CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — We’ve long questioned the practice of elected officials using taxpayers’ money to place their names and photos on vehicles, billboards and various “trinkets” — key chains, magnets, pencils, pens, cups, etc.
We believe the practice to be gaudy at best and unethical at worst — especially during election season.
The bill, which passed both the House and Senate unanimously, appears specific enough to avoid much confusion.
It says public officials, their employees or their agents may not “use the public official’s name or likeness on any publicly owned vehicles.”
It also restricts putting the name or likeness of the official on “trinkets paid for by public funds.”
The bill also says that officials may not use public funds to “distribute, disseminate, publish or display the public official’s name or likeness for the purpose of advertising including, but not limited to, billboards, public service announcements, communication sent by mass mailing, or any publication or media communication intended for general dissemination to the public.”
The bill’s lead sponsor, House of Delegates Assistant Majority Whip Kelli Sobonya, R-Cabell, said the bill will cut the practice of officials using taxpayers’ money to promote themselves…