OC business grounds airplane banners supporting Trump
Following a single day of flights, the owner of Ocean Aerial Ads has opted to pull political banners in support of Donald Trump after a series of complaints.
The ads in question allegedly read "Stop Mad Cow Disease ... Stop Hillary" and "America First. Build That Wall."
While owner Bob Bunting received numerous complaints following the inaugural flights of the banners, he insists that he had no political motivation in flying the banners, and it was nothing more than a business transaction.
"People pay us to put ads out, it's as simple as that," Bunting said. "If someone called supporting Hillary, we'd put the ad in."
Bunting said he personally has no stake in the upcoming presidential elections, or political affiliation.
"It's no political affiliation on either side on our part," Bunting said. "To be honest with you, I don't really like either candidate. My father was a Democrat, sometimes he voted Republican, I'm a Republican, sometimes I vote Democrat."
Berlin resident Ann Augustine, who sent in complaints about the banner, believed that the signs were in particularly bad taste, regardless of the company's intent.
"The words that were used were disparaging, especially towards women," Augustine said. "I have two daughters and I don't really like that kind of talk. I don't think it had any place on the beach. We all have sides, it's a political world and I understand that, but I believe in respectful conversation. I found that kind of childish."
Bunting further stated that the people complaining were doing so because of their own political affiliations.
"If they would've seen an anti-Trump banner go by, they would've applauded," Bunting said.
Ocean City Mayor Richard Meehan even received complaints about the banners.
"Late yesterday afternoon I received a call from Bob Bunting, and he called to just give me heads up that he wasn't looking for any controversy, and he wanted people to continue reading the banners and the advertisements for Ocean City, and he decided he was no longer going to run anymore political ads," Meehan said.
Meehan further stated that Bunting had no political intentions while flying the ads.
"They called him, just like anybody else, and certainly it was something that he could fly," Meehan said. "I don't think he anticipated the pushback from it, and I don't think that's what he was looking for. He made his own decision to not fly them anymore, and I told him it would probably make the summer easier for both of us."
Town of Ocean City communications manager Jessica Waters further stated the importance of Ocean City's trademark aerial banners.
"A lot of people when they think of Ocean City think of the banner planes," Waters said. "A big part of being on the beach or the boardwalk is watching the banner planes fly, it's a great opportunity for our local businesses, and it's very nostalgic for visitors."
"So I think the banner planes are a wonderful thing, and in this case, I don't think the business owner expected this kind of controversy."