METHUEN - Jim Sereigo-Wareing is calling on state Highway Commissioner Luisa Paiewonsky to resign for causing a "public relations mess" with the state's plan to take down patriotic displays from highway overpasses.

"I believe she should be removed from that position," said Sereigo-Wareing of Methuen. "She's caused so much controversy, she shouldn't be in that position. This is a big mess for Massachusetts, locally and nationally."

Earlier this week, the Massachusetts Highway Department announced it was banning displays of flags, ribbons, sheets and other items that hang on overpasses in support of men and women serving in the military. Sereigo-Wareing has been behind many of these patriotic displays since the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001.

It was the second time MassHighway had ordered the displays to come down. A year ago, MassHighway, under the direction of Paiewonsky, tried to ban flags. But after the story was reported in The Eagle-Tribune, MassHighway reversed its plan, saying secured and maintained displays like Sereigo-Wareing's could stay.

This week, Gov. Deval Patrick stepped in. In a statement, he said displays could remain until transportation and veterans services officials could develop an "appropriate" way to honor troops.

"She directed both of those plans on taking down flags," Sereigo-Wareing said. "I feel badly because Massachusetts supports troops very aggressively. The fault is by the commissioner again. I'm distraught over the whole thing."

"The flags are nonpolitical," Sereigo-Wareing said.

State leaders are supporting the displays, saying MassHighway should allow them to remain. State Sen. Steven Baddour, D-Methuen, said the flags should be allowed to hang permanently.

"I contend that over the last five years that our country has been at war, these remembrances have not caused undue harm or distraction to drivers," Baddour wrote in a letter to Paiewonsky. "These signs and displays serve as a humbling reminder of our soldiers' sacrifices while we continue to lead our own hectic lives."

Two state legislators who lead the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs also expressed support for the flag displays in a letter to the governor.

"These flags and banners are a necessary reminder that there are U.S. soldiers honorably fighting a war overseas," said state Sen. Stephen Brewer, D-Barre, who along with Rep. Anthony Verga, D-Gloucester, submitted the letter to the governor.

MassHighway spokesman Erik Abell declined to address Sereigo-Wareing's comments.

Highway and veterans affairs officials met Wednesday to discuss other ways to honor troops. Abell described that meeting as a "good exchange of ideas" and said another meeting is planned in the next few days.