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EYEWITNESS LOCAL NEWS
VISA ADVERTISING UPDATEfrom Eyewitness News Online WV Auditor Says Visa Promotion Benefited State Reported by:  Associated PressWeb Producer: Jeff Morris Reported: Feb. 25, 2013 9:26 AM EST Updated: Feb. 26, 2013 1:13 PM EST
Charleston
, Kanawha County
, West Virginia
Auditor Glen Gainer said West Virginia benefited from his appearance in a Visa online campaign promoting the state's purchasing card program. The Charleston Gazette reported that Gainer defended his participation in a letter to the state Ethics Commission. The letter requests an advisory opinion on whether the state Ethics Act was violated. The commission ruled last year that public officials can't endorse products, unless the public benefit outweighs the private gain. In his letter, Gainer said West Virginia has repeatedly received praise for purchasing card best practices. He says highlighting that success and the saving of taxpayer dollars are public benefits. Gainer and other state officials who appeared in the campaign say they received no compensation. At Gainer's request, Visa removed the West Virginia videos from its website Monday. Copyright 2013 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Auditor Glen Gainer's office plans to ask the state Ethics Commission to determine whether his appearance in a Visa online advertising campaign violated the state's ethics law. Gainer and four other state agency administrators appear in online videos promoting Visa's purchasing card program. The officials say they received no compensation to appear in the ads. Gainer spokesman Justin Southern told the Charleston Gazette that the Auditor's Office doesn't believe Gainer's appearance in the Visa ads violated the ethics law. But he said the office will ask the Ethics Commission for a formal advisory opinion. Southern also said the office will ask Visa to remove the videos from its website. Copyright 2013 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. MORE NEWS FROM EYEWITNESS NEWS
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