Officials say PSAs serve purpose, not candidate

"Don't get scammed!"

"Save for college."

"Read to your kids."

Are those phrases from Securities Commissioner Chris Biggs, Treasurer Lynn Jenkins and Secretary of State Ron Thornburgh public service announcements or code words for "vote for me"?

The answer, according to Thornburgh, depends on who is talking.

"I am sure there is a line," he said. "It is almost like 'beauty is in the eye of the beholder.' Everyone is going to have their own opinion of who crossed that line."

Mike Gaughan, the state Democratic Party's executive director, and Christian Morgan, the state GOP's executive director, said they were OK with using ads to support a program. For instance, Learning Quest is an initiative from Jenkins' department to educate people about long-term investments for children's college education. And the Legislature in 2001 established a fund for the Kansas Securities Commission to educate consumers on regulations and investments.

The ads in which Jenkins and Biggs appear weren't funded by taxpayer money.

When Biggs' public service announcements began appearing in 2005, critics said he was using the ads to further his political career and increase his chances of being elected as the next attorney general. Biggs at the time said he had no plans to run for the office, and he didn't join the race.

The same concerns are being raised again now that Biggs has been mentioned as a possible replacement for disgraced Attorney General Paul Morrison.

"I was not in a position to predict what happened to Paul Morrison," Biggs said. "I think that was very unfortunate. What I have told people is honest. If I get a call from the governor, which I have not yet, then I will sit down with my family and discuss the circumstances."

Gaughan said "public officials have a responsibility to keep Kansans informed," and Morgan said it was clear the officials are touting services rather than encouraging people to endorse them or vote for a certain cause.

"I understand the argument against the ads," Morgan said, "but that is almost like limiting any type of contact an official could have with the public. When I go to the state fair, I see life-size cutouts of Gov. Sebelius. That doesn't mean I agree with her politics, but she is the governor. I am not sure we want to set some sort of limit on whether or not our public officials can have some sort of presence in the public eye."

Story by Kasha Stoll: (785) 295-1270, kasha.stoll@cjonline.com"Billy" ads

The Securities Enforcement Restitution Fund has received more than $6.9 million through fines, penalties and settlements. Of those, about $1.4 million has been used on the "Billy" media campaign.

Since 2005, consumers have watched as "Billy," a man who frequently got scammed in fraudulent investments, lost his shirt and shorts before learning the smart way to handle his money.

Biggs, a Democrat, appeared at the end of the first four commercials for 2.3 seconds - director of investor education Leonard Allen said he timed it - and warned consumers not to get scammed.Learning Quest

Jenkins, a Republican, has entered the 2nd District Congressional race and is raising money for her campaign.

But Morgan said he doubts voters will confuse her political ads for Congress with her PSAs for the savings program administered by her office.

Her public and political ads probably won't appear at the same time, anyway.

Stacey Bedford, with American Century Investments, the agency responsible for marketing the Learning Quest program, said Jenkins' PSAs always run in the fourth and first quarters of the year because that is when people are "evaluating their investments and preparing their taxes."Drawing lines

Thornburgh, a Republican, has filmed PSAs encouraging parents to read to their children, a topic he said he strongly supports. But he doesn't appear in the ads his office presents during election years to answer questions on how to register.

He said he stays out of them because he wants to avoid questions about a possible agenda.

"I think there is a legitimate purpose for PSAs," Thornburgh said. "The time comes when the office holder has to decide, 'Does this pass the smell test?'\u2009"

That test, he said, is based on what public officials are comfortable with and what they believe is an appropriate use of available funds.

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