Political campaign signs popping up all over valley

Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2004 | 11:14 a.m.

It's going to be a long political season, especially since political signs are popping up now -- seven months before the primary.

Only one state regulation and two local ordinances prevent political signs from being put up long before an election, although most local ordinances require such signs to be taken down either 15 days after a candidate is eliminated in a primary or 15 days after the general election.

The one state regulation says political signs on private property adjacent to a state highway cannot be erected until 60 days before a primary election. That regulation also gives eliminated primary candidates 30 days to remove signs and gives general-election candidates 30 days after the election to take them down.

The lone ordinances setting limits on when signs can be put up are in Boulder City and Mesquite. They prohibit political signs from being erected more than 60 days before a primary election.

"Theoretically, a day after an election you can put up a political sign for the next election in most places," Registrar of Voters Larry Lomax said.

"Why there are no (other) ordinances to prevent signs from going up so early is a good question. My opinion is that it is because ordinances are made by elected officials who have to run for office and like political signs because they provide name recognition and are cheaper than running ads on television."

There also are some regulations that restrict the use of political signs as established by the Nevada Transportation Department for along highways, as well as ordinances by Clark County and Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Henderson, Boulder City and Mesquite.

Most deal with setbacks to keep signs out of the right-of-ways and height restrictions so they do not disturb quality of life in residential areas.

"We get about 20 to 30 calls a political season about signs, mostly from people complaining about cluttering or that they are still up past the 15 days," Lomax said.

Joe Boteilho, whose Clark County Public Response office fields those complaints, says traditionally it is the 15-day rule that takes up the bulk of his workers' time.

"When the occasional complaint comes along that signs are out beyond the 15 days, we at first advise a candidate to remove the signs," he said.

"If that is not done, we can issue a notice of violation and then take steps that include prosecution. It is a misdemeanor (maximum six months in jail or a $1,000 fine). But the vast majority of them remove the signs immediately."

Boteilho does not recall if anyone ever has been jailed or fined for forgetting to take down a sign.

Michael Shaefer, who has run twice for Justice of the Peace and once for Secretary of State, says if there are ordinances to restrict where signs can be placed there should be ordinances in the larger entities restricting when people can erect them.

"There is a time and place for everything," said Shaefer, who maintains residences in Nevada and California and last year put up several hundred signs in California for then-gubernatorial candidate and now Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. "For instance, I like Christmas decorations like anyone else, but it can get irritating to see them on someone's home well into June.

"I think a good law or ordinance would be to limit political signs from being put up until 30 days before filing for candidacy begins. This year, that would mean signs could go up in April. That's long enough."

Justice of the Peace Doug Smith disagrees. He already has 40 large signs up in Southern Nevada alerting voters that he is taking a shot at the Nevada Supreme Court Justice post held by Deborah Agosti.

"I'm always the first to get my signs up," Smith said, noting it is difficult to unseat an incumbent and that challengers need any edge they can legally get. "I do it so that my signs are out there before there are 30 other signs on that spot and no one can see mine.

"It is not only about signs, I'm also doing speaking engagements now."

Smith's strategy is to move his big signs around so that they are seen in many areas.

"Being on the move makes 40 signs look like 80 or more signs," he said, noting that he has not yet printed his smaller signs that he says also will be out relatively early.

Smith says political signs do not have to look unattractive and that candidates should keep them in good condition regardless of how long they are out in the elements.

"This year, for the first time, I am using vinyl signs that if damaged can be removed and replaced," Smith said.

Dr. Jon Petrick also has put up an early political sign, a large one along Stephanie Street in Henderson near Interstate 215, promoting his run for the Assembly District 29 seat held by Republican Josh Griffin

Department Four Justice of the Peace James Bixler also has put up distinctive large signs with crossed gavels forming the "X" in his last name.

Here is a look at some of the regulations and ordinances: