Button, Button

The controversial banner on the front of City Hall has been modified to cover up "for Mayor" on the button Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs has on her lapel. Now it just reads "Sharon!" which some may argue is the same as her past campaign signs.

The banner, hung last week, celebrates Robinson-Briggs' naming by the Gateway Chamber of Commerce as Mayor of the Year. On April 6, the incumbent was one of seven Democrats who filed to run for mayor in the June 2 primary. One candidate, Councilman Adrian Mapp, voiced objections to the banner at the April 6 City Council agenda-fixing meeting where the governing body was asked to approve its display from April through September. The resolution to permit display of the banner will be up for a vote at the April 13 regular meeting, 8 p.m. in Municipal Court.

At the agenda-fixing session, Corporation Counsel Dan Williamson said there was no political intention in the banner's display, but Mapp said it was "clearly a political statement." Williamson promised to take another look at it.

Councilwoman Linda Carter asked why the normal procedure for banners was not followed, which involves submission of an image of the banner along with the request for its display. In this case, the banner went up prior to the request and Carter said she did not recall seeing any images submitted. Williamson said the image "can easily be redacted" if there is a problem.

The image on the banner is identical to one on a campaign poster that was on display recently in a downtown photography studio. Click here to see Plaintalker's previous post on the issue.

Robinson-Briggs is completing a four-year term this year. Democratic primary challengers besides Mapp are Carol Ann Brokaw Boles, Martin Cox, Bob Ferraro, Rebecca Kelly and Tom Turner. The winner of the primary will face one Republican, James Pivnichny, in the November general election, along with any independents who file on June 2.

--Bernice Paglia