Editor’s note: This commentary is by Paul Ralston, of Middlebury, who is the CEO of Vermont Coffee Company and an independent candidate for the Addison Senate seat. He is a former Vermont House representative.
[O]n Aug. 16, Vermont Public Radio informed the Vermont Coffee Company that the company’s prepaid underwriting spots would be blacked out on their network for a month because I am an independent candidate for the Vermont Senate to represent the Addison District.
According to VPR, the decision to black out the company’s ads in the runup to the November election is the result of “a recent policy decision” made by the network after receiving a complaint from “a listener.” The new policy states that VPR will not air advertising for “a business that includes all or part of a candidate’s name or said candidate is integral to the identity of the business.”
Our company is a proud supporter and underwriter of VPR. We paid our current contract of $22,328.24 in advance, and we have over four months remaining. Our underwriting on VPR is strictly about the company. There is no mention of my name or a political campaign.
I’m trying to understand what is behind this decision. In a state with many small businesses, I think it is important that business owners get involved and bring their experiences to our government.
When I spoke with VPR President and CEO Scott Finn seeking clarification on the new policy, he was vague about who at the station will decide if a candidate is “integral to the identity of a business,” other than to say it is a staff decision. He was unable to define what criteria or test will be applied to validate a staff decision to ban a candidate’s company ads. No information was given on whether other candidates running this year will be affected by the new policy.
The complete text of Vermont Coffee Company’s VPR ad:
“Vermont Coffee Company, organic coffee in the brown paper bag. Roasted with renewable energy. Vermont Coffee Company, coffee roasted for friends.”
