REPUBLIC, Mo. -- A national group opposing the idea of new taxes on beverages is hitting the airwaves hard in Missouri, featuring two prominent community members from the Ozarks to deliver their message.

And one ad featuring the Republic school district's Activities Director has already come down.

A group called Americans Against Food Taxes and their members say they're worried about the potential of Congress implementing higher taxes on soft drinks to pay for healthcare.

But for Republic Activities Director Greg Garton, participating in the campaign may have brought him more attention than he thought.

Garton and Springfield Teamsters member Roger Chapel were both tapped to be profiled in ads, which are running statewide.

"Hey Washington, if you're listening, how about you keep your promise of No New Taxes," Garton says in an ad.

"It's not the time for any beverage tax at all," says Chapel in another.

Garton said he got permission from Republic superintendent Vern Minor before shooting the ad on school grounds.  But once it hit the airwaves, some residents complained about the political tone being conveyed from a public school official.

Garton, who declined an on camera interview, told Ky3 News by phone that he stood by everything he said in the ad.  "Most of the emails I've gotten have been supportive.  You just can't single out one item to tax," he said.

"I think Mr. Garton did a fine job. He's voicing his opinion, he's exercising his free speech so that's great," said school board president Melissa DuVall.  "I was concerned that there would be confusion about whether or not this was district sponsored or is this Mr. Garton's opinion," she added.

The American Beverage Association said the ad featuring Garton stopped running this week, as scheduled.

"The ad has run it's course.  We feel like it was an effective campaign," said spokeswoman Connie Farrow.

But DuVall told Ky3 News a different story.  She said, after some discussion, Garton decided to request the ad stop running.

"Based on the fact that confusion existed, Mr. Garton did elect to go ahead and have the spot pulled," DuVall said.

DuVall said she didn't know anything about the ad until she saw it on television.  But she said any potential of blurring the line between the educational and political was never the district's intent.

"The fact that it caused confusion, I think that was unfortunate. That's what we don't want," she said.

In an e-mail Superintendent Minor said Garton's participation in the ad "is not a school issue."  "Mr. Garton is free to speak as a private citizen on issues," Minor said. "The school district does not have contracts with any beverage industries and is not taking a position on the issue," he added.

Despite not having any contracts, DuVall said Republic does sell Coca-Cola at its athletic events and some of the profits are dedicated to student activities.

To watch the full ads, head to the Ky3 Political Notebook.

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