Publisher’s Perspective
One of the advantages of being a publisher is having an open book, or in my case, a newspaper, to write about community issues that affect all of us.
One of the advantages of being a newspaper owner is the luxury of being able to publish a column about things I don’t necessarily agree with.
So, here I go.
The 2020 Primary Election is now upon us.
A record number of mail-in votes have been received.
Early voting is now being conducted and candidates are turning up the heat with their campaign tactics.
On Wednesday, I published a news article about an ordinance that prohibited signs on county-owned real estate. Along with the article, a photo was published that showed a large number of campaign signs placed on the Hamilton County Judicial Center lawn.
On Thursday, I visited a couple of the early voting sites in Westfield. Each site was littered with campaign signs.
I counted 52 campaign signs at Westfield Town Hall. That a piece of real estate is maybe a quarter of a block in size. I also noticed 10 of those signs were advertising one particular candidate.
I then visited Westfield’s other early voting site, the Public Safety Building. Forty-two signs lined both sides of the entrance to the polling site. Again, some candidates had multiple signs stuck in the ground.
Two candidate poll workers for the JR Gaylor campaign set up lawn furniture along the sidewalk outside Westfield’s Public Safety Building. (Reporter photo by Jeff Jellison)
I’ll agree with Commissioner Steve Dillinger’s comments he made in December after passing the ordinance prohibiting signs on county real estate: “Poorly placed signs increase visual clutter.” I’ll take it a step further. All campaign signs increase visual clutter.
Folks, it has gotten out of hand. And it is not just the signs.
At Westfield’s Public Safety Building, candidate poll workers were camped alongside the drive, complete with lawn chairs, food boxes, drink containers and a patio umbrella.
Last week, I received an email from a campaign marketing firm asking me to participate in a survey for a local candidate.
Two weeks ago, I received a text message that contained an advertisement from one of our local candidates running for Congress.
A few weeks ago, I received a phone call from another national marketing firm wanting my opinion on a state representative running for re-election.
To the candidates: Do you really need more than a couple signs at each polling place? Please, STOP calling and texting me, especially at dinner time when I’m trying to talk to my wife with my face buried in a plate of fried chicken.
To our commissioners: Your first attempt at the sign ordinance was shot down in court. After making some changes, you then drafted a very good ordinance. STOP changing the rules in the middle of the game!
To the candidate poll workers: When I step out of my truck at the poll, I already know who I am voting for. STOP setting up shop on the sidewalk. I really don’t want to see your lawn furniture and trash at our polling sites.
Oh, and the mudslinging: I’d rather hear about you than I would about your opponent being a Russian, or a puppet, or compared to a 1980 El Torino.
Another interesting election.